The year 2025 marked a historic milestone in the history of the African Union (AU), with the inauguration of the Africa Space Agency (AfSA), which is headquartered in Egypt. This landmark achievement is a key deliverable of the AU’s Agenda 2063’s Outer Space Strategy, underscoring the continent’s commitment to leveraging space technologies for socio-economic growth, scientific innovation, and enhanced international collaboration.AfSA owes its existence to the approval of the African Space Policy and Strategy (ASPS), which charted Africa’s course toward a united and advanced space industry. The ASPS was adopted by African heads of state and government at the AU Assembly’s 26th ordinary session on January 31, 2016. It emphasises the role of space in attaining sustainable development, disaster management, climate change monitoring, and socio-economic progress. The African Space Agency Act of 2017 established a legal and regulatory framework for managing space activities across the continent, laying the groundwork for the formation of AfSA. It also detailed the strategic objectives of Africa’s space sector, including the development of satellite technology, space science education, and collaboration with global space companies.Egypt was selected to host AfSA in 2019 during the 32nd ordinary session of the AU assembly, having met the necessary political and technical criteria. This decision further solidified its leadership role in Africa’s space ecosystem. The establishment of AfSA’s headquarters in Egypt’s Space City represents a transformative step in Africa’s journey towards sovereignty in space capabilities which has the potential to contribute to economic growth and support sustainable development in alignment with Africa’s Agenda 2063. The AU established a Space Council tasked with promoting and advocating for African positions on space conventions and treaties. This council liaises with AU commissioners and elected officials, oversees AfSA, appoints the director-general and deputy director-general, and vets and approves reports and budgets. The council also advises policy organs on space policy related issues and reports to the assembly. The Specialised Technical Committee on Education, Science, and Technology (STC-EST) provides overall strategic guidance and orientation to the agency through the council. This arrangement implies regular consultations with AU policy organs and the preparation and participation in AU statutory meetings. The council serves as the advisory committee, setting terms, rules, and agenda items for the committee to discuss. This structure supports the development and implementation of selection processes, coordination and discussions with different stakeholders, such as regional economic communities (RECs) and the African Academy of Sciences, and establishing selection criteria for the four chief executive officers of four African private sector entities, each representing one of the four space sectors: earth observation, satellite communication, navigation, and space and astronomy.The strong legislative frameworks governing AfSA’s operations include the African Space Strategy, African Space Policy Framework, African Space Agency Act, and Member State Agreements. These founding documents provide AfSA with the ability to promote global collaborations and guarantee the prudent use of space for Africa’s advancement.AfSA aims to balance digital sovereignty with international law, address funding challenges, and ensure that space technologies contribute to economic and social needs. However, without careful integration, AfSA risks becoming a symbolic initiative. AfSA gives Africa the chance to exercise agency in international scientific and geopolitical spheres that have historically been dominated by Western countries. This is consistent with the ideals of decolonisation, which emphasises resolving historical inequalities, encouraging self-reliance in vital areas, and giving priority to African led research and development. AfSA also provides a forum for improving Africa’s international relations through partnerships founded on mutual respect and objectives rather than on exploitation. In this regard, AfSA not only furthers Africa’s space aspirations but also, via the prism of decolonisation, reinterprets its place in the world’s power structures. AfSA is aligned with international treaties such as the Outer Space Treaty of 1967, which empowers it to promote the peaceful use of outer space, ensure equitable access to its benefits, and foster regional cooperation among African nations. The agency must handle the intricacies of international space law, especially on environmental preservation, resource utilisation, and sovereignty. AfSA’s impacts in the international milieu depends on its capacity to balance regional concerns, guarantee fair access to space resources, and advance sustainable practices in line with international frameworks such as the Outer Space Treaty.AfSA has the prospect of strengthening pan African unity. This initiative promotes the sharing of infrastructure, knowledge, and resources aimed at common goals, including satellite construction, space exploration, and data exchange, reducing inequalities across the continent.AfSA has the potential to collaborate with prominent international space organisations, such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the USA, the European Space Agency in Europe, the China National Space Administration, Russian State Corporation for Space Activities, and the Indian Space Research Organisation. Examples of these collaborations could include capacity-building and technology transfer, and joint research initiatives in earth observation, space exploration, and satellite applications. AfSA’s emphasis on peaceful space applications is consistent with international standards and promotes collaboration and confidence. The establishment of AfSA has the potential to promote South-South cooperation. The agency can engage with emerging space programmes in Asia, South America, and the Middle East, playing a key role in advancing collaborative efforts. This could entail exchanging best practices for developing space technologies affordably and establishing cooperative programmes for disaster management, agribusiness, and climate resilience.AfSA will play an essential role of amplifying Africa’s voice in international fora such as the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. This engagement gives the continent the ability to influence global space policies, such as ensuring equitable access to radio frequencies and orbital slots, rules of ethics for space travel and preventing the militarisation of space.AfSA has contemporary international implications as it promotes Sustainable Development Goals. The agency can, through strategic collaborations leverage space technology for various global issues, such as climate change monitoring, which includes tracking deforestation, desertification, and rising sea levels. It can also address food security through drought forecasting and precision farming, and improve disaster management by facilitating faster responses to cyclones and floods. Through AfSA, the continent can leverage space technology to drive socio-economic development and enhance international trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area. AfSA can also facilitate advancements in space based monitoring systems, bolstering agricultural productivity, natural resource management, and climate resilience, directly supporting trade critical sectors. Notwithstanding the various opportunities presented by AfSA, a major challenge associated with the agency is securing sustainable funding. This challenge is intensified by the continent’s polarisation and diverse national objectives, along with varying levels of economic development, complicating efforts to achieve a unified funding approach.However, through cooperation, innovation, and sustainable development, AfSA is well-positioned to contribute significantly to the advancement of international relations. By leveraging space technology, AfSA can address both continental and global issues, thereby enhancing Africa’s influence on the world stage. To achieve this success, long-term political will, resolving internal issues, human capital investment, and strategic African-driven alliances with the global community will be essential.Chirozva is a member of the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy at Africa University, Dzinesa is a senior research fellow with the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation at the University of Johannesburg and the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, Cape Town, South Africa, Pinduka is a member of the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy at Africa University.
