SHARON KAVHU in Cairo, Egypt
Africa’s drive toward establishing a sustainable space economy is gaining momentum, with the continent now positioning itself to take greater ownership of space science and technology.
This is according to Tidiane Ouattara, President of the African Space Agency (AfSA), who spoke during an interview on the closing day of the GMES & Africa Forum 2 in Cairo.
The event was held under the theme: “GMES and Africa: A Journey Toward Shaping Africa’s EO Road Map as a Key Pillar of a Sustainable African Space Economy.”
Ouattara said Africa’s path forward hinges on strengthening three core pillars: ground infrastructure, space-based hardware, and downstream applications that transform satellite data into real-world services.
“The space economy is essentially the contribution of space science and technology to economic growth, either by reinforcing existing sectors or by creating entirely new ones,” he said.
Although the continent still lacks much of the infrastructure needed for advanced space operations, Ouattara views this shortfall as an opportunity for investment, capacity building and innovation.
Infrastructure and Opportunities
He highlighted the need for increased development of ground-based facilities, including data centres, receiving stations and mission control infrastructure to support satellite operations. He added that Africa must simultaneously advance its ability to produce satellites, high-altitude balloons and other space vehicles that can collect and relay critical data.
Downstream applications, he noted, are where the public feels the greatest impact. These include systems for flood monitoring, climate surveillance, agriculture forecasting, forestry management, ocean observation and urban development.
“Applications are where satellite data solves the daily needs of our communities,”. Ouattara said.
He emphasised that space technologies could also help countries better manage natural resources, counter illegal mining, strengthen transport monitoring, enhance navigation services and build resilience to the effects of climate change.
Human Capital a Key Priority
Despite the promise of the sector, Dr. Ouattara cautioned that meaningful progress depends heavily on investment in people.
“None of this will ever be possible without building a critical mass of human capital,” he said. “Space is relatively new in Africa. We must train our young people.”
He called for increased education and capacity-building efforts across the continent, urging governments, universities and initiatives such as GMES & Africa to scale up training in Earth Observation, engineering, data analytics and related disciplines.
Looking Ahead
The GMES & Africa Forum 2 concluded with a reinforced commitment to establishing an Earth Observation Road Map to guide African countries in integrating space technologies into national development agendas.
Ouattara said AfSA will continue working with regional and continental partners to ensure Africa transitions from being primarily a consumer of space services to becoming “a meaningful contributor to the global space economy.”
“Space offers immense opportunities for Africa,” he said. “To seize them, we must build, innovate and educate.”
The Cairo gathering convened policymakers, scientists, private-sector leaders and development partners from across Africa, marking yet another step forward in the continent’s evolving space journey.
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