Africa eyes space autonomy: Burkina Faso to host satellite manufacturing hub
An Ethiopian engineer, Bijay Naiker, has signed an agreement with the Government of Burkina Faso to establish what organisers describe as the continent’s first satellite manufacturing facility, a project aiming to shift Africa from being a consumer of space technology to becoming a producer of its own satellites.
The planned technology centre will be built within an industrial park in Burkina Faso and is intended to become a major hub for designing and producing satellites for telecommunications, Earth observation and natural resource management. Officials involved in the memorandum of understanding said the initiative supports broader aspirations for technological sovereignty and cooperation across Africa, reducing long-standing reliance on foreign space technology.
Naiker described the project as aligning with a “pan-African” vision in support of the country’s leadership, emphasising its role in fostering innovation and local expertise. While most African space-related infrastructure to date has focused on satellite reception or data ground stations, this plan would take a further step into actual manufacturing on the continent.
The facility could ultimately provide African engineers and researchers with a platform to develop satellites tailored to the region’s specific needs, such as environmental monitoring, disaster response and digital connectivity — sectors where space technology is increasingly seen as essential.
Observers of Africa’s growing tech ecosystem say the agreement reflects a broader trend of expanding scientific capacity across the continent, which already includes satellite launches and ground station developments in countries such as Senegal and Namibia. A successful implementation could mark a significant milestone for African participation in the global space industry.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
