AfSA President calls for rethinking global space partnerships at ESPI Autumn Conference
Date: 2025-11-02
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
President
of the African Space Agency (AfSA), H.E. Dr. Tidiane Ouattara, has called for a
new model of global partnership in the space sector, stressing the need for
transparency, equity, and shared responsibility among spacefaring nations and
regions. Speaking at the 19th ESPI Autumn Conference in Vienna, Dr. Ouattara
described space as a global commons and said the future of space development
must reflect genuine collaboration across continents including Europe, Africa,
Asia, the Americas and Oceania.
His
remarks were delivered during a high-level session focused on Europe’s evolving
role in space security, sustainability, governance, and innovation. Dr.
Ouattara noted that Africa is increasingly becoming an important actor in the
global space ecosystem and urged Europe to strengthen meaningful cooperation
based on complementarity and mutual benefit rather than traditional
donor-recipient approaches. He said that building bridges between regions is
now essential as space continues to expand commercially, technologically, and
geopolitically.
The
Vienna gathering, which opened with strong calls for European ambition and
autonomy, saw contributions from senior European leaders who emphasised
investment, innovation, and partnership as key pillars for future growth. Dr.
Ouattara said Africa stands ready to work closely with Europe on shared
strategies, adding that sustainable space governance must reflect a fair and
inclusive global system as the sector becomes more critical to addressing
climate, security, and economic challenges on Earth.
