Why This Leader Calls Africa The New Eldorado For The Global Space Business

As celestial prowess becomes a source for geopolitical strength, Africa’s capacity in the projected trillion-dollar space sector will influence its global sway. With as much at stake, the African Space Agency (AfSA) was formed.

Operational since April 2025, AfSA, headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, was years in the making, beginning in January 2016 when an African Union (AU) assembly adopted the African Space Policy and Strategy. Two years later, the Statute of the African Space Agency was approved, ushering in objectives, regulations, and a legal framework.

It may have taken nearly a decade from that assembly in Ethiopia to opening day in Cairo, but when it comes to fine-tuning the blueprint for an ecosystem as complex, vast, and unknown as space, it’s best not to rush.

Despite its extensiveness across various topics and sub-agendas, a running theme throughout the declaration is its ambition for harmony within.

“Regional collaboration is not just important, it is the defining principle of Africa’s space future,” Dr Ouattara Tidiane, President of AfSA, tells FORBES AFRICA.

He argues that while no nation can independently “build a complete and competitive space sector”, the continent has the scale, talent, and resources to do so.

“By sharing infrastructure, harmonizing policies and regulatory framework, and aligning and leveraging investments, we reduce costs, avoid duplication, and accelerate progress. AfSA was created precisely to bring this coordination to life,” Tidiane adds.

With Africa’s space industry expected to reach $39.52 billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 7.97%, all signs point to a region prioritizing the cosmos. And for good reason.

The downsides of foreign satellite reliance are immense. In a world where data is currency, establishing a competitive space presence is a matter of wealth and autonomy; and not doing so could cement irreversible dependency.

“Space defines how nations access data, make decisions, and secure their socioeconomic development pathways,” Tidiane says, before highlighting the necessity of implementing indigenous systems that align with Africa’s reality.

Without native insights, the region could find itself adopting solutions from research conducted thousands of kilometers offshore, that are so out of touch with Africa’s hive of cultures, traditions, and terrains that local nuances won’t even be considered.

One of the continent’s key figures tasked with avoiding such consequences, the president notes: “We are shaping a different trajectory–one where Africa contributes, leads, and engages as an equal partner.”

The dash for space comes at a time when satellite innovation offers an encyclopedia of real-time information.

Using nanosatellites, small enough to fit inside an adult’s palm, operators can provide connectivity to rural regions, conduct agricultural analysis to optimize yield and minimize crop loss, as well as provide 24/7 border and wildlife security, autonomously notifying nearby officials to accelerate response times. 

While the advantages are endless, Africa’s growth trajectory attaches more urgency to the occasion, underscoring the significance of Tidiane’s mission to fast-track progress through regional collaboration.

The continent’s projected population increase is expected to push the current workings of industries beyond their capabilities—space technology can expand operations through efficiency and speed.

While Africa’s rawness has come at a price, with many nations hampered by ailing or non-existent trade infrastructure, Tidiane sees a lucrative landscape.

“Africa is now the New Eldorado for the space business,” he states, adding that its burgeoning population “represents huge market opportunities for all kinds of space products and services”.

Space may seem far away, but it’s becoming increasingly intertwined with how the world works. It provides an untapped path to self-governance and facilitates informed decision-making.

With Africa burdened by a lack of launch capacity as global powers tighten their grip on space, the region can become vulnerable. If there is a failure to get off the ground, the continent could find the West making all the decisions.

Despite the disparity in infrastructure, Tidiane believes the continent is well-positioned for a rich future amongst the stars. 

“While we may not yet have all the infrastructure in place, we are steadily building the foundations: developing satellites, strengthening ground systems and downstream products and services, and investing in human capital across the continent,” he explains.

“True independence in space is defined not only by launch capability but also by the ability to design, own, and use space-derived data to serve our people. Africa is moving from fragmented initiatives toward a unified and strategic ecosystem, provided we sustain our commitment and work collectively.”

It’s a collaborative mindset that has the potential to transform Africa’s authority on the world stage; fostering an ecosystem where strength in numbers propels the continent’s future in space.