As of May 2025, 22 of Africa’s 54 recognized sovereign states have established at least one national space agency or equivalent organization, accounting for a total of 23 such entities across the continent. These bodies oversee satellite development, Earth observation, telecommunications, space science research, and capacity-building initiatives to support socioeconomic and technological advancement.
Algeria: Algerian Space Agency
The Algerian Space Agency (Agence Spatiale Algérienne, ASAL) is the government authority responsible for the development and oversight of Algeria’s space program. Its activities include satellite design and manufacturing, Earth observation, and the promotion of space science for national development.
Website: http://www.asal.dz
Angola: Angolan National Space Program Management Office
The Gabinete de Gestão do Programa Espacial Nacional (GGPEN) coordinates Angola’s national space program. It manages satellite projects, ground stations, and partnerships to support telecommunications, remote sensing, and capacity-building in space science.
Website: https://www.ggpen.gov.ao/
Botswana: Botswana International University of Science & Technology
The Botswana International University of Science & Technology (BIUST) is a research-intensive public university that specializes in science, engineering, and technology. BIUST is developing satellite and Earth-observation projects, including a planned 3U nanosatellite constellation.
Website: http://www.biust.ac.bw
Côte d’Ivoire: Geographic and Digital Information Centre
The Centre d’Information Géographique et Numérique (CIGN), under the Bureau National d’Études Techniques et de Développement (BNETD), manages the national land-mapping database and GIS capacity-building. It produces land-cover maps, supports sustainable land management projects, and develops geospatial platforms for data dissemination.
Website: https://www.bnetd.ci/fr
Djibouti: Ministry of Higher Education and Research
Through its Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Djibouti leverages space technologies for environmental monitoring—particularly water-resource management under climate change—and is planning two nanosatellite missions alongside a proposed spaceport in the Obock region.
Website: http://www.education.gov.dj/
Egypt: Egyptian Space Agency
The Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA) is the national space authority founded on January 17, 2018. It succeeded the National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, overseeing satellite launches, mission control, and the development of Egypt’s Space City infrastructure.
Website: https://egsa.gov.eg/
Egypt: National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences
The National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS) is Egypt’s pioneering research institute in Earth observation and space sciences. Established in 1994, it develops remote-sensing applications, designs spaceborne sensors, and operates ground stations for environmental monitoring.
Website: https://www.narss.sci.eg/
Ethiopia: Space Science and Geospatial Institute
The Space Science and Geospatial Institute (SSGI) is an autonomous federal institute established in 2022 by Article 57 (1) of Proclamation No. 1263/2021 under the Ministry of Innovation and Technology. It is mandated to coordinate Ethiopia’s national space science and geospatial programmes across both civil and national defence sectors. SSGI’s responsibilities include satellite operations and mission control; the construction and management of ground station facilities—such as GNSS and magnetometer stations at the Entoto Observatory and Research Center; the development, analysis and distribution of geospatial data; and research and capacity-building in space science and geospatial technologies. SSGI aligns Ethiopia’s space activities with the African Union Space Policy and Strategy and supports socioeconomic development through Earth observation, disaster monitoring, and infrastructure planning.
Website: http://ssgi.gov.et/
Gabon: Agence Gabonaise d’Études et d’Observations Spatiales
The Agence Gabonaise d’Études et d’Observations Spatiales (AGEOS) is Gabon’s national space and remote-sensing agency, established in 2010. It collects, analyzes, and distributes Earth-observation data to support environmental management, natural-resource monitoring, land-use planning, and disaster preparedness.
Website: https://www.ageos.ga
Ghana: Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute
The Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) operates under the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. Founded in 2012, it conducts research in satellite engineering, radio astronomy, and remote sensing to support agriculture, resource management, and disaster monitoring.
Website: https://gssti.org
Kenya: Kenya Space Agency
The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) is the state corporation mandated to promote, coordinate, and regulate space-related activities. Since its formation, KSA has supported satellite development, ground-station operations, and educational outreach in space technology.
Website: https://ksa.go.ke
Libya: Libyan Center for Remote Sensing and Space Science
The Libyan Center for Remote Sensing and Space Science (LCRSSS) is a governmental research organization established in 1989. It focuses on satellite remote sensing, seismology, and astronomy, providing data services and training to support Libya’s natural-resource management and hazard assessment.
Website: http://www.lcrsss.ly/
Mauritius: Mauritius Research and Innovation Council
Formed in September 2019, the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) advises the government on applied research, innovation, and technology transfer. It administers grant schemes for proof-of-concept, collaborative R&I, social innovation, and intellectual-property promotion to drive socioeconomic development.
Website: https://www.mric.mu/
Morocco: Royal Center for Remote Sensing
The Royal Center for Remote Sensing (Centre Royal de Télédétection Spatiale, CRTS) is Morocco’s national institution for remote-sensing applications. Created in 1989, it implements Earth-observation projects in agriculture, water management, and urban planning, and coordinates the use of satellite imagery for public and private sectors.
Website: https://www.crts.gov.ma/
Namibia: National Commission on Research, Science and Technology
Established by the Research, Science and Technology Act (2004), the National Commission on Research, Science and Technology (NCRST) coordinates, monitors, and promotes research, science, technology, and innovation in Namibia. It fosters linkages among stakeholders, ensures systematic funding, and drives capacity-building for a knowledge-based economy.
Website: https://ncrst.na
Nigeria: National Space Research and Development Agency
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is Nigeria’s parastatal space agency, established in 1999. NASRDA develops and operates satellites, conducts space science research, and manages ground stations to support telecommunications, meteorology, and environmental monitoring.
Website: https://central.nasrda.gov.ng/
Rwanda: Rwanda Space Agency
The Rwanda Space Agency (RSA) was established in 2020 to coordinate all national space activities. Its mandate covers the development of a competitive national space ecosystem, the operation of ground stations, and the use of satellite data for socioeconomic development.
Website: https://space.gov.rw/
Senegal: Senegalese Space Study Agency
The Agence Sénégalaise d’Études Spatiales (ASES) was announced on March 23, 2023. ASES promotes socioeconomic development through space-based applications, oversaw the launch of the nation’s first nanosatellite, and leads capacity-building initiatives in satellite engineering and space science.
Website: (not publicly available)
South Africa: South African National Space Agency
The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) was formed in 2010 to consolidate the country’s space research efforts. SANSA’s work spans Earth observation, space science, engineering, and space operations, with facilities dedicated to satellite technology, space weather, and ground-station support.
Website: https://www.sansa.org.za/
Sudan: Remote Sensing and Seismology Authority
The Remote Sensing and Seismology Authority (RSSA) of Sudan, established in 1977, is the national body for remote sensing, GIS, and seismology. RSSA provides research services, training, and consulting in environmental monitoring, disaster management, and natural-resource assessment.
Website: (not publicly available)
Tunisia: National Mapping and Remote Sensing Centre
The Centre National de la Cartographie et de la Télédétection (CNCT) is a public institution under the Ministry of Defence, responsible for topographic mapping, geodesy, photogrammetry, and satellite remote sensing. Since 2004 it has expanded its remit to support environmental monitoring, coastal-zone management, and land-use planning.
Website: http://www.cnt.nat.tn
Uganda: Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation
The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MSTI) was created in June 2016 to plan, coordinate, and implement government policies for scientific research and technological innovation, including space science applications in agriculture, security, and human-resource development.
Website: http://www.sti.go.ug/
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency
Launched on July 10, 2018, the Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA) is mandated to advance geospatial science and space technology in Zimbabwe. It develops and operates Earth-observation satellites, provides GIS and GNSS services, and applies remote sensing for agriculture, disaster management, and natural-resource mapping.
Website: https://zingsa.ac.zw
