12 Feb Advancing Africa’s Shared Space Agenda Through Continental Collaboration

From 20–23 April 2026, national space agencies, government ministries, research institutions, and international stakeholders will convene in Libreville, Gabon, for the 6th edition of the NewSpace Africa Conference. Hosted by the African Space Agency (AfSA) in partnership with AGEOS and Space in Africa, the event represents a deliberate moment of continental leadership—at a time when Africa’s space ambitions require unprecedented coordination, focus, and collective action.

Since its formal establishment in 2025, AfSA has been working to move Africa’s space policy from paper to practice. The conference in Libreville is designed to accelerate that process. Under the theme “Inclusive Growth: Expanding Space Benefits to All Africans,” the gathering places an intentional emphasis on how Africa can ensure that space technology delivers not only scientific and commercial outcomes but measurable societal benefits for all communities across the continent.

The core question at the heart of this year’s agenda is clear: how do we strengthen the institutional, industrial, and policy structures that allow space technology to improve agriculture, disaster management, connectivity, education, and economic empowerment—at scale and equitably? Libreville offers a platform where these answers can be shaped collectively.

Africa’s growing space landscape has reached a decisive turning point. More than 20 countries have operational space programmes, 65 satellites have been launched, Government spending on space exceeds USD 426 million annually, and international partnerships continue to expand, bringing with them opportunities and challenges.

Nonetheless, Africa’s progress depends not only on investment but on alignment. As new players emerge and global interest in Africa’s space capabilities grows, a coordinated approach is critical to prevent fragmentation, reduce infrastructure duplication, and build efficient, sovereign capacity across member states. The NewSpace Africa Conference 2026 is designed as a space not just for updates, but for strategic collaboration at the highest level.

Gabon: A Symbol of Emerging Leadership

The selection of Libreville is intentional. Through AGEOS, Gabon has distinguished itself as a model for regional leadership in space applications and environmental monitoring. Its geographic position along the equator, as well as its demonstrated commitment to leveraging space-derived data for sustainable resource management and climate resilience, positions it as an exemplary host nation.

What Gabon has accomplished through AGEOS, building national capabilities, nurturing talent, and delivering concrete services, reflects the kind of continent-first leadership that the African Space Agency seeks to support and expand.

The Imperative of Inclusive Growth

Satellite data and space-based services are already transforming development outcomes globally. Yet the full potential of these technologies will only be realised in Africa if the benefits are accessible to all, not just to those at the centre of power. Climate services must reach farmers; telemedicine must extend to rural clinics; connectivity must strengthen local economies. These issues lie at the heart of the NewSpace Africa Conference 2026 agenda. With sessions exploring satellite-led agricultural monitoring, disaster preparedness, precision navigation, and public service delivery, the conference emphasises a singular goal: ensuring that space-enabled development works for Africa’s people.

The African Space Agency welcomes collaboration with regional and international partners. With global space powers increasingly seeking engagement in Africa, the NSAC 2026 provides an opportunity to recalibrate the terms of engagement, ensure that shared projects reflect shared priorities, and that cooperation results in capacity creation, not dependency.

The NewSpace Africa Conference 2026 will build on this momentum, offering a forum where African institutions and global partners can co-create, with clarity around sovereignty, capability-building, and equitable benefit.

For AfSA, the NewSpace Africa Conference 2026 is a working platform, and its value will be measured not only in the dialogue it fosters but in the decisions, agreements, and frameworks it helps bring to life. The actionable outcomes of the conference will inform AfSA’s implementation agenda over the coming years, including:

• Regulatory alignment across member states
• Harmonisation of continental infrastructure development
• Establishment of regional capacity-building programmes
• Expanded industrial participation and investment opportunities
• Strengthened pan-African data governance and policy frameworks

We welcome space agencies, intergovernmental institutions, ministry representatives, mission partners, and international collaborators to join us in Libreville, Gabon, from 20th to 23rd April 2026, where Africa’s shared space future will be shaped.