Africa Space Law & Policy Conference 2026 Pretoria, 28–29 May 2026

Trade, Industry and Competition Department:
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
the dtic
REPORTING COMPREHENSIVE
AFRICA SPACE LAW & POLICY CONFERENCE 2026 Pretoria, 28–29 May 2026

Executive Summary
Hosted by the University of Pretoria and McGill University’s Institute of Air and Space Law (IASL)
In partnership with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA).

The inaugural Africa Space Law and Policy Conference convened government, industry, academia and the next generation of legal practitioners to review Africa’s position in global space governance. Held at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Pretoria on 28–29 May 2026, the Conference provided a platform for dialogue on regulatory certainty, trade and investment and the domestication of international obligations.

The programme brought together representatives from the South African Council for Space Affairs (SACSA), the African Union Commission and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), alongside national space agencies, regulators, commercial operators and students participating in the 17th African Regional Round of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition. This integration ensured continuity between academic training and policy formulation, with structured recognition of excellence balanced with inclusive participation.

Across two days, discussions converged around five interlinked themes: international governance and
sustainability; national and regional regulatory development; commercialisation and financing of space activities; space security and the protection of civilian infrastructure; and capacity building for legislative drafting and implementation. A technical site visit to SANSA’s Hartebeesthoek facilities grounded policy debate in operational reality.

Background and Context

Africa’s space sector is transitioning from predominantly state led research programmes to a diversified ecosystem that includes commercial Earth observation, satellite operations, downstream applications and emerging interest in lunar governance. Regulatory clarity has become an industrial policy priority, linking licensing timelines, market access and investment derisking.

The Conference was convened to provide clarity on the direction of international and regional regulation; enable direct engagement between regulators, industry and emerging lawyers; and showcase South Africa’s operational infrastructure as a foundation for continental growth.

Objectives

• Review Africa’s position in global space governance and the work of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
Compare national approaches to authorisation, supervision and spectrum coordination.
Examine commercial pathways, financing models and the interface between licensing and fiscal policy.
Clarify African perspectives on space security, responsible behaviours and international humanitarian law.
Build practical legislative capacity among emerging practitioners.

Proceedings and Key Discussions

Opening and Strategic Framing
Amb. Xolisa Mabhongo (DIRCO) and Ms Nomfuneko Irene Majaja (the dtic) positioned space as an industrial policy priority, linking regulatory certainty to trade and investment. Prof Andrea Harrington (McGill IASL), Prof Steve Cornelius and Prof Ntombizozuko Dyani-Mhango (University of Pretoria) provided the academic anchor. Mr Humbulani Mudau, CEO of SANSA, outlined South Africa’s operational priorities in Earth observation and satellite operations. Ms Aarti Holla-Maini, Director of UNOOSA, addressed support available to African states for domesticating the UN space treaties and accessing UNOOSA capacity building tools.

International Governance and Sustainability

Moderated by Prof Christopher Gevers with Prof Harrington, Rosanna Hoffman (UNOOSA) and Margaret M. Machepha (African Union Commission), centred on the evolving work of COPUOS, implementation of longterm sustainability guidelines and the African Union’s coordination role. For industry, the key takeaway was the direction of travel on transparency, registration and debris mitigation, factors that directly affect licensing timelines and market access for African operators.

National and Regional Regulatory Developments

Moderated by Icho Keolotswe-Matlou (SACSA), featured Michael Kabai (SANSA), Chinonso Emmanuel Nwoye (NASRDA), Anuarite Umwari (Rwanda Space Agency), Rachel Olore (Kenya Space Agency), Kasibante David (SGAC Africa) and Etim Offiong (ASLI). Rather than a country by country report, the panel compared approaches to authorisation, supervision and spectrum coordination across South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Rwanda. Stakeholders heard where regulatory harmonisation is advancing, critical for cross border Earth Observation services, ground station networks and regional launch related activities and where gaps remain for new space entrants.

Commercial Space Activities and Global Integration

Moderated by Prof Wian Erlank, included Adv Yvette Barrington-Brown (NewCraft Aerospace), Dr Antonino Salmeri (Lunar Policy Platform), Dr Maria Ria Nonyana-Mokabane (SACSA), Jaymion Hendricks (DIRCO), Denis Karasira (RSA), Joan Chesoni (National Treasury, Kenya) and Ayman Mahmoud Mohamed Ahmed (UNOOSA). The session moved from policy to practice: financing models for downstream applications, the role of national space councils in derisking investment and implications of emerging lunar governance for future African participation. The presence of both SACSA and National Treasury representatives signalled the link between licensing, fiscal policy and industrial development.

Space Security and Military Use

Moderated by Ms Kgaugelo Mogashoa (DIRCO), with Prof Dr Harrington, Dr Samuel Oyewole, Col Tamara Thomas-Herwels (SA Space Command), Jaymion Hendricks and Mauro Vignati (ICRC), addressed responsible behaviours, protection of civilian space infrastructure and international humanitarian law considerations. For commercial stakeholders, the discussion clarified the boundary between civil and dual use systems, a key input for export control, insurance and compliance planning.

Space Economy Round Table

Moderated by Dr Arnold Agaba (McGill IASL), speakers Ms Leago Takalani, Adv Barrington-Brown, Dr Reshma Mathura (SACSA Council), Jessie Ndaba (Astrofica), Memme Onwudiwe (Harvard Law) and Joan Chesoni focused on investable opportunities: Earth observation for agriculture and climate resilience, satellite manufacturing skills pipelines and the need for predictable licensing to attract venture capital. The round table underscored why regulatory clarity is a competitiveness issue, not merely a legal one.

Capacity Building for National Space Laws

A closed technical workshop, led by Ms Reabetswe Mampane (UP), Prof Precious Sihlangu (NWU) and Ms Nompumelelo Nzimande for the 17th African Regional Round of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition participants, provided a clause by clause walkthrough of domestic space legislation. Using South Africa’s Space Affairs Act and comparative examples from Nigeria, Kenya and Rwanda, instructors addressed authorisation and continuing supervision, national registry obligations under the Registration Convention, third party liability and insurance requirements, spectrum coordination and the interface between civil licensing and security considerations. The session provided direct exposure to drafting choices, institutional mandates (including SACSA under the dtic) and compliance touchpoints that determine project bankability.

Recognition of Emerging Practitioners

The winners and first runner-up of the 17th African Regional Round of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition were honoured at a dinner hosted by the University of Pretoria and McGill IASL, providing a platform for mentorship between students and senior practitioners.
Site Visit at SANSA Hartebeesthoek
Delegates toured SANSA’s Hartebeesthoek Satellite Operations and Earth Observation facilities, located within the Agency’s 3,000 hectare site in the Magaliesberg mountains. The visit offered direct insight into satellite telemetry, tracking and command operations and the processing of Earth observation data supporting agriculture, disaster management and climate services across the continent.

Conclusion

Regulatory certainty is central to industrial policy: licensing predictability directly influences trade, investment and market access.
Harmonisation is progressing but uneven: South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Rwanda demonstrate divergent models for authorisation and spectrum coordination.
Transparency, registration and debris mitigation are emerging as baseline expectations in international forums.
Fiscal policy and space regulation are interdependent: National Treasury engagement is essential for derisking.
Security considerations must be integrated early: clarity on civil versus dual use systems affects export controls and insurance.
Capacity building must bridge theory and drafting: practical legislative architecture determines bankability.

The Conference delivered three outcomes: clarity on the direction of international and regional regulation; direct engagement between regulators, industry and emerging lawyers; and visibility of South Africa’s operational infrastructure as a foundation for continental growth. By integrating policy dialogue with technical training and operational exposure, the inaugural Africa Space Law and Policy Conference established a model for sustained continental coordination.

Prepared by: Space Affairs Chief Directorate