Morocco Among Top African Nations Driving Space Program Growth
Marrakech, The Gulf Observer: Morocco has been identified as one of Africa’s leading nations in space program development, according to a new report released in September by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies.
The analysis, authored by Temidayo Oniosun and titled “African Collaboration in the Space Domain Holds Potential for Continental Benefits,” places Morocco alongside Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, and Angola as countries making sustained investments in space technologies.
The report notes that Morocco has already launched five satellites, placing it among the continent’s top performers in satellite deployment. Its programs encompass Earth observation, communication, and scientific satellites, often developed with the support of international partnerships.
Oniosun stressed that space technologies are deeply embedded in daily life across Africa, from satellite television broadcasting and navigation systems on smartphones to rural broadband expansion. “Space assets are not abstract symbols of technological prestige, but concrete instruments of sovereignty and security,” he wrote.
Across Africa, satellites are increasingly used for border surveillance, maritime monitoring, resource management, and wildlife protection — activities that directly reinforce national sovereignty, security, and sustainable development. Government spending on space across the continent has averaged about $500 million annually in recent years, with Morocco consistently among the leaders.
The report also underscores the visibility of space applications in Morocco, noting the prevalence of satellite dishes in cities like Fez and the central role of broadcasting satellites in everyday life for millions of citizens.
Currently, 21 African countries have established space programs, 18 of which have successfully launched at least one satellite. Collectively, the continent has deployed 65 satellites, with over 120 more expected by 2030.
To enhance efficiency and reduce duplication, the African Space Agency (AfSA), inaugurated in Cairo in April, has been tasked with aligning national space initiatives. One of its flagship projects, the Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme — launched in 2025 with €100 million in funding — aims to bolster African capacity in climate monitoring, agriculture, disaster risk management, and private sector development while ensuring African ownership of data and systems.
The report recommends that countries with established space programs, such as Morocco, adapt to the global model that empowers private sector involvement as a driver of innovation and technological progress. Greater private participation, it argues, will encourage creativity and mobilize investment to accelerate the sector’s growth.
“Space is not a luxury for Africa but a strategic necessity,” Oniosun concluded, emphasizing that the continent’s space ambitions hold immediate benefits and long-term promise. Morocco, the report asserts, is well-positioned to expand its role through both national initiatives and deeper continental collaboration in the years ahead.
