By Sarah Cope | 2025-12-11

African governments are placing space technology at the center of national planning as they confront conservation challenges and broader security concerns.

This trend reflects a pragmatic view of space as an essential asset for economic growth, environmental protection and land oversight.

Across the world, space technology is rapidly becoming core infrastructure, with border surveillance, maritime monitoring and wildlife protection all areas that can benefit from accurate geospatial data.

In Africa, the alignment of policy priorities with emerging technical capabilities is driven by necessity, as governments grapple with rapid population growth, increased pressure on natural resources, and illegal extraction networks.

Satellites can provide oversight of large territories that are difficult to patrol. In Tunisia, for example, a satellite-based vessel monitoring system is used to track fishing activity in the Mediterranean, within the country's territorial waters.

Tunisia's system supports compliance with conservation rules and reduces harmful practices that threaten fish stocks, using near-real-time location data to detect unlicensed vessels and coordinate enforcement.

South Africa has taken a similar path with its Operation Phakisa, which uses satellite imagery to track vessels in its exclusive economic zone, supporting efforts to curb illegal fishing and to monitor pollution.

The program integrates space data with coastal radar and other sensors to create a unified maritime picture. The result is more effective response capabilities that protect the marine resources essential to its economy.

Governments across East Africa are using satellites for wildlife and natural resource conservation.

Kenya has adopted geospatial tools to track wildlife migrations, human encroachment, and land-use changes, focusing on elephant conservation.

Conservation groups and state agencies rely on satellite-derived data to estimate population numbers for elephants, rhinos and other threatened species.

Detailed mapping of habitat loss informs decisions on fencing, protected areas, and community engagement. These tools also help rangers identify poaching risks by highlighting unusual movement patterns or new access routes.

The goal is to shift from reactive enforcement to preventive action.

Wildlife management

Regional cooperation is also gaining ground.

The launch of the African Space Agency in April marked a milestone in the continent’s long-term space strategy. The agency serves as a coordinating body for policy development, data-sharing frameworks, and capacity building.

Member states use it to avoid duplication of investment and to provide common infrastructure where appropriate. The agency supports interoperability standards that make it easier for African nations to pool resources.

This collaborative structure matters because the gap between demand for space services and the current supply remains wide.

Although 21 African states now operate national space programs and have launched 65 satellites, the projected need for advanced Earth observation and communication capacity is much larger.

Forecasts indicate the continent may require more than 100 additional satellites by 2030 to support agriculture, urban planning and disaster response, in addition to conservation and security missions.

The value of shared systems to wildlife management is clear.

Regional migration routes cross borders, and poaching networks move across national lines. Coordinated sensing and common data platforms allow states to track events across ecosystems rather than within isolated administrative zones.

Institutions such as Digital Earth Africa and partnerships with academic groups provide analysis tools that transform raw satellite data into accessible information for conservation agencies.

Local teams can monitor vegetation, water levels, and fire scars through simple dashboards, reducing reliance on external consultants and building domestic expertise.

Disaster risk reduction

Satellite-based early warning systems can help African nations predict and respond to natural disasters such as floods, droughts, cyclones and bushfires.

Post-disaster assessments rely on high-resolution imagery to map damage and plan recovery.

These satellite functions have become part of national resilience strategies, with several countries moving to secure continuous access to observation data rather than episodic support from international partners.

Yet technical and financial challenges persist. Launch costs remain significant. Ground infrastructure requires sustained maintenance and specialist skills. Fragmented data-sharing policies can complicate cross-border cooperation.

Addressing these issues requires long-term planning and predictable funding.

The African Space Agency aims to guide standardization and shared procurement. International partnerships continue to play a role, although African governments are seeking to develop local capacity.

As more nations adopt satellite systems and strengthen cooperation through the African Space Agency, the region is likely to expand its influence within the global space sector.

The next phase of development will involve integrating satellites with ground-based sensors, artificial intelligence and digital platforms to produce more accurate models of land and ocean dynamics.

Conservation, once reliant on field patrols and manual surveys, is now integrating the most advanced technologies on offer.