African Space Agency Inaugurated in Cairo to Boost Continental Space Cooperation

The official opening of the African Space Agency (AfSA) headquarters was held in Cairo on Sunday, April 20, where the facility was unveiled within Egypt’s national Space City.
The agency, which is intended to serve as a central hub for Africa’s space ambitions, had been established following Egypt’s selection as host by the African Union in 2019. The selection was based on the country’s fulfilment of the requisite political and technical standards. The inauguration was marked as a landmark development in Africa’s pursuit of technological and scientific advancement in space-related fields.
The creation of the agency has been hailed as a reflection of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stating that the initiative symbolised the aspirations of “The Africa We Want.” It was emphasised that the agency would facilitate peaceful cooperation in space exploration, capacity-building among member states, and unified African representation in global forums such as the United Nations. Strong emphasis was placed on AfSA’s expected collaboration with universities, research centres, and international partners in a bid to consolidate Africa’s presence in the global space science and technology domain.
The African Space Agency is now expected to act as the principal body coordinating space initiatives across the continent and liaising with foreign entities, particularly from Europe and Asia. Its mandate includes promoting joint missions, expanding access to satellite data, and enabling the development of space-derived applications to address continental challenges. According to Sherif Sedky, CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency, AfSA is envisioned as a “beacon of innovation” for African nations. International interest has already been expressed, with Chinese firm MinoSpace indicating plans to explore potential cooperation in small satellite development and related technologies.