In April 2025, the Africa Space Agency (AfSA) was inaugurated in Cairo, marking a new chapter aimed at unifying African nations’ space efforts, sharing infrastructure and data, and fostering regional cooperation, with Egypt playing a leading role.

International partnerships with Europe, China, Russia, and the US are expanding Africa’s space capabilities, emphasizing pragmatic cooperation focused on development and security rather than prestige.

Governments across Africa utilize satellite data to enhance agriculture, urban planning, climate monitoring, and disaster management, helping to mitigate vulnerabilities from environmental hazards and economic challenges.

Regional cooperation is strengthening through initiatives like the Africa-EU Space Partnership, launched in 2025 with a €100 million investment, and the African Space Agency’s efforts to coordinate strategies and reduce duplication.

While some African countries like Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, and South Africa have long-established space programs, newer entrants such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda are rapidly developing their capabilities, leading to diverse expertise across the continent.

Space assets in Africa are vital not only for communications but also for security, border surveillance, resource management, wildlife conservation, and disaster response, making them essential instruments of sovereignty.

Africa has historically contributed to global space achievements, such as hosting infrastructure for the Apollo moon missions in the 1960s, but now the continent is actively building and owning its own space infrastructure, designing satellites tailored to regional needs.

Today, African countries primarily use space technology to improve everyday life by addressing issues like connectivity, flooding, drought, and agricultural productivity, rather than pursuing lunar or Martian exploration.

Africa recognizes the strategic importance of satellites for national security, development, and resilience, as demonstrated by the 2024 West African internet outage where satellite services like Starlink and NigComSat provided critical connectivity.

Sustainable growth in Africa’s space industry depends on effective coordination, capacity building, and private sector participation to avoid fragmentation and ensure space technology serves broader development goals.

Africa’s space efforts are characterized by a mix of 'spacefaring' countries like Nigeria, which have launched satellites from abroad, and 'space-aspiring' nations developing their own capacities.

The establishment of AfSA aims to facilitate cooperation, data sharing, and infrastructure development among African countries, despite varying levels of space program development, supported significantly by Egypt and China.

The success of AfSA remains uncertain but benefits from strategic partnerships, especially with China, which has built the agency’s infrastructure and maintains influence over African space activities.