Morocco emerges as key player in Africa’s expanding space sector

Morocco is consolidating its position as one of Africa’s leading space powers, according to a new report by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies.

The September analysis by Temidayo Oniosun, “African Collaboration in the Space Domain Holds Potential for Continental Benefits,” highlights Morocco alongside Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, and Angola as frontrunners in space program development, Morocco World News writes. 

The report underscores Morocco’s “sustained investments in space,” citing a portfolio that includes Earth observation, communication, and scientific satellites, often developed through international partnerships. Morocco has launched five satellites to date, placing it among the continent’s top contributors to satellite deployment.

Oniosun notes that the importance of space in Africa has often been “invisible, embedded in the tools and services that citizens use daily without realizing they rely on satellites orbiting thousands of kilometers above Earth.”

He adds: “From the broadcasting of television programs to navigation systems on smartphones and the expansion of rural broadband access, satellites have already become an integral part of African life.”

The study stresses that “space assets are not abstract symbols of technological prestige, but concrete instruments of sovereignty and security,” pointing to their role in border surveillance, maritime monitoring, resource management, and wildlife protection.

Annual African government spending on space has averaged around $500 million in recent years, with Morocco among the leading investors. Beyond strategic uses, space technologies are increasingly embedded in everyday life. The report notes that “satellite dishes adorn rooftops” in cities such as Fez, where broadcasting satellites continue to shape media consumption across the continent.

“Space is not a luxury for Africa but a strategic necessity,” Oniosun concludes.

Currently, more than 21 African countries have established space programs, and 18 have launched at least one satellite. Collectively, the continent has placed 65 satellites in orbit, with over 120 more expected by 2030.

The report highlights the launch of the African Space Agency (AfSA) in Cairo earlier this year as a step toward reducing duplication and improving coordination. One of AfSA’s flagship projects, the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme, was introduced in 2025 with €100 million in funding. The initiative seeks to strengthen African capabilities in climate monitoring, agriculture, disaster risk management, and private sector development while ensuring “African ownership of the data and systems it generates.”

The study also urges established space nations such as Morocco to adapt to the “evolving global model that enables the private sector as an engine of innovation and technological advancement.” According to the report, greater private participation could spur innovation and attract investment, accelerating growth across the sector.

With five satellites already in orbit and growing regional influence, Morocco is positioned to expand its role in Africa’s space development through both national initiatives and continental collaboration in the years ahead.

By Sabina Mammadli