African Space Agency headquarters inaugurated in Cairo
The ceremony brought together high-level delegations from across the African Union Member States, as well as international partners and stakeholders in the global space industry.
Kenya participated took part in the official inauguration of the African Space Agency (AfSA) headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
The Kenya Space Agency (KSA), led by the Chairperson of the KSA Board, Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Amb. Joff Otieno was accompanied by the Agency's Director General, Brig. Hillary Kipkosgey at the inauguration.
The historic event marked a significant milestone in Africa’s collective journey toward advancing the continent’s capabilities in space science, technology, and exploration.
Hosted by Egypt, the ceremony brought together high-level delegations from across the African Union Member States, as well as international partners and stakeholders in the global space industry.
Speaking on behalf of Kenya and the Eastern Africa region, Brig. Kipkosgey underscored the importance of coordination and partnerships in developing Africa's space ecosystem.
"Pamoja tuijenge the African Space Agency (Translation: Together let's build the African Space Agency)," he said, emphasizing the need for collective efforts in building a robust and inclusive continental space program.
A key highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the African Space Agency and the European Space Agency (ESA).
"The MoU marks a new chapter of collaboration aimed at enhancing technical cooperation, capacity building, and joint projects in areas such as Earth observation, satellite development, and data sharing," said the Kenya Space Agency.
Established under the African Union Commission, the African Space Agency is mandated to coordinate and implement continental space programs and foster Africa’s self-reliance in space technologies.
The launch of its headquarters signals a new era of strategic collaboration and shared ambition for Africa’s sustainable development through space science and technology.
The inauguration also serves as a precursor to the New Space Africa Conference, set to take place from April 21 to 24 in Cairo, bringing together innovators, investors, and policymakers to shape the future of Africa’s space industry.