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The African Space Agency traces its roots to the adoption of the African Space Policy and Strategy, guiding Africa’s path toward a united and advanced space sector.
The foundation for Africa’s continental space agenda was laid in January 2016 during the Twenty-sixth Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly, where African Heads of State and Government adopted the African Space Policy and Strategy. This milestone established the framework for utilising space technology to achieve the AU’s vision of an integrated, prosperous, peaceful Africa. The African Space Policy and Strategy underscored the importance of space for achieving sustainable development, disaster management, climate change monitoring, and socio-economic growth.
The African Space Agency Act was approved in 2017, setting the legal and regulatory framework for overseeing space activities across the continent. It provided the basis for the creation of AfSA. It outlined the strategic goals of Africa’s space sector, such as satellite technology development, space science education, and partnerships with global space players.
Egypt was selected as the host nation of the African Space Agency in 2019 at the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union after meeting the necessary political and technical criteria, further solidifying its leadership role in Africa’s space ecosystem.
Egypt’s Space City is now home to the African Space Agency’s headquarters, solidifying Egypt’s leadership role in Africa’s space ecosystem. On January 25, 2023, an agreement was signed between the Egyptian government and the African Union Commission to formally inaugurate AfSA. This agreement sets the stage for AfSA’s operationalisation and reflects Egypt’s commitment to fostering space research, technology development, and innovation across the continent. The Egyptian Parliament further demonstrated the country’s commitment by approving presidential decision no. 2023/213 in June 2023, which officially greenlighted Egypt to host AfSA’s headquarters. The Egypt Space City, a 123-acre, state-of-the-art facility designed to support Africa’s space exploration efforts, will serve as a hub for space-related research, innovation, and capacity building. This move is also expected to boost Egypt’s space industry and stimulate small and medium enterprises (SMEs) connected to space technology. Satellite data and other space technologies provided by AfSA will contribute to economic growth, support sustainable development, and align with Africa’s Agenda 2063, the continent’s blueprint for socio-economic transformation.
The African Union Commission (AUC) will officially inaugurate the African Space Agency (AfSA) during the 2025 NewSpace Africa Conference, which will take place at Egypt Space City in Cairo, Egypt. With this launch, AfSA is set to become the central body for promoting collaboration on space initiatives across the continent.
