The African Space Agency (AfSA) has officially opened its doors on the 20th of April at Egypt’s Space City, marking a historic moment nearly a decade in the making. With its mandate to coordinate continental space activities across Earth observation, satellite connectivity, astronomy, and navigation, AfSA represents Africa’s bold step toward space sovereignty.
The agency begins operating alongside the African Space Council (ASC), a 10-member oversight body that will guide AfSA’s strategic direction and ensure alignment with continental priorities. As Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, ASC president, emphasizes: “Africa’s survival and prosperity depend on its ability to harness space technologies” – from agriculture to disaster response.
The numbers reflect the current reality. Africa’s 327 commercial space companies across 36 countries generated just $309 million in 2023 – a mere fraction of the estimated global $500 billion space economy. The investment in the space economy in most African countries is similarly low. This gap represents both a challenge and an enormous opportunity for AfSA to unlock.
AfSA’s recent partnerships with ESA, UAE Space Agency, and Roscosmos demonstrate strong international commitment, particularly the €100 million ESA program targeting early warning systems and space data economy expansion. However, the ESA agreement’s first training session scheduled in Brussels highlights a disconnect with African realities – visa difficulties continue to exclude many talented Africans from European programs.
For AfSA to thrive, several elements are essential. First, practical implementation over bureaucracy. As Spacehubs Africa‘s Kwaku Sumah warns, AfSA “risks existing in name only” without real action. Second, inclusive participation from all member states, as Namibia’s Dr Lisho Mundia Mundia notes that “less-resourced countries can benefit by partnering with other member states.”
AfSA should advocate for training delivery across African countries eager to develop their space economies. Solutions and pricing must be customized to African requirements. The agency’s legitimacy as an African Union (AU) organ positions it uniquely to break down the silos that have limited coordination between more established African space economies. By fostering public-private partnerships and enabling regulatory frameworks, AfSA can transform Africa’s fragmented space sector into a coordinated continental force. Success will be measured not in announcements, but in tangible outcomes that improve African lives through space technology.
Africa’s Space Future: What the New African Space Agency Needs to Thrive
