24 Feb The Stars Belong to Africa Too

In a world where space has long been the playground of the West and the East, Africa is stepping forward—not just as a spectator but as a key player. And at the heart of this new frontier stands the African Space Agency, determined to rewrite the script. On February 20, 2025, at the opening of the Salon International de l’Intelligence Artificielle, de la Défense et de l’Espace (SIADE), Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, President of the Council of the African Space Agency (AfSA), delivered a powerful message: Africa must not remain a mere consumer of space technologies—it must become a producer.

Speaking at the Grande Plénière under the theme “Enjeux de la souveraineté et du développement de l’Afrique, Spatial, Défense et IA” (Challenges of African Sovereignty and Development: Space, Defense, and AI), Dr. Ouattara painted a vivid picture of a continent on the cusp of a space revolution. Standing before an audience of policymakers, defence experts, technology leaders, and the youth painted a vivid picture of a continent whose future is written in the stars.

“Space is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity,” he said. “From agriculture to security, from climate monitoring to disaster response, Africa’s survival and prosperity depend on its ability to harness space technologies.”

Dr. Ouattara outlined three key pillars for Africa’s space ambitions: the necessity of space technologies, the need for a robust structural framework, and the future of space in the era of NewSpace and Artificial Intelligence (AI). He stressed that Africa, with its vast landmass and growing population, must transition from being a consumer of space technologies to a producer and innovator. “Africa is a sleeping giant in the space economy,” he said. “With a projected revenue of $22 billion by 2026, we are barely scratching the surface of our potential. We must move from being passive users to active creators of space knowledge, services, and solutions.”

Dr. Ouattara called for a cohesive political vision, strategic investments, and inclusive governance to achieve this. He highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships and the need to nurture local talent through academia and innovation hubs. “The future of space lies in collaboration,” he asserted. “We must build a critical mass of skilled professionals and create an enabling environment for startups and SMEs to thrive.”

The African Space Agency, in partnership with the Ivorian government and OTIF AFRICA SPACE, is already taking steps in this direction. Dr. Ouattara announced the upcoming Marché Africain des Solutions Spatiales (MASS), scheduled for 6-8 May 2025 in Abidjan. This event will bring together key stakeholders to explore infrastructure, services, and products that address Africa’s unique challenges in agriculture, natural resource management, telecommunications, and energy. On the security front, Dr Ouattara emphasized the indispensable role of space technologies in modern defence systems. From satellite-based surveillance to secure communication networks, he argued that mastering space science is essential for safeguarding Africa’s sovereignty. “The battlefield of the future is in space,” he said. “To defend our territories and secure our future, we must invest in space capabilities today.”

But the speech was not just a celebration of possibilities; it was a call to action. Africa’s space sovereignty, he said, must be built on African innovation, African industries, and African leadership. And that is why initiatives like the African Space Solutions Market (MASS), set to take place in Abidjan this May, are critical.