Africa took a giant leap toward space exploration and technological independence with the official inauguration of the African Space Agency (AfSA) headquarters in Egypt’s Space City, Cairo, on Sunday. The inauguration marks a significant milestone in the continent’s quest to advance its presence in the global space community.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty described the inauguration as a pivotal moment aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions “The Africa We Want.” Abdelatty emphasized that AfSA will be instrumental in fostering cooperation among African nations in the peaceful use of outer space, knowledge-sharing, capacity building, and establishing a united African front in global space governance, particularly within the United Nations.
“The establishment of this agency reflects our shared commitment to a future where Africa is not just a user but a producer of space technology,” said Abdelatty.
The AfSA headquarters will act as a hub for innovation, driving Africa’s ambitions in satellite development, space missions, and the utilization of space-derived data for socioeconomic development. Sherif Sedky, CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency, praised the inauguration as a “beacon of innovation, collaboration, and progress for all African nations.”
China also expressed interest in collaborating with AfSA. Huan Yiheng, cofounder of Beijing-based satellite engineering company MinoSpace, said the agency represents a valuable platform for joint development of space technology across the continent. “We want to explore potential cooperation with the AfSA and other African countries,” Huan told Xinhua.
With its new headquarters, AfSA is poised to become the central body coordinating Africa’s space activities and partnerships with Europe and other global players. It will facilitate better access to space-based data and services that can aid in critical sectors such as agriculture, disaster management, education, and climate monitoring.
Egypt was selected as the host of AfSA in 2019 after fulfilling the African Union’s political and technical requirements. The inauguration solidifies its role in steering Africa into the future of space exploration and scientific achievement.
