Lomé, Togo, is set to host the second edition of Space Forum Africa from July 28 to 31, 2026, as the continent continues to deepen its engagement with space technology and its practical applications in key economic sectors.
Organised by African Geospace, under the leadership of Richard Folly, the forum will convene governments, space agencies, investors, research institutions, and technology companies to explore Africa’s growing space ecosystem. This year’s edition will be held under the theme “Building Africa’s Space Future: Innovation, Defense and Sustainability.”
The event reflects the rising interest across Africa in leveraging space-based technologies, particularly satellites and geospatial data, to address development challenges. Discussions are expected to focus on how these tools can be deployed in agriculture, mining, urban planning, and environmental monitoring.
Although Africa’s space industry remains in its early stages, momentum has been building steadily, with several countries investing in satellite development, Earth observation systems, and data-driven decision-making tools. The forum aims to strengthen collaboration between African stakeholders and international partners, while also attracting investment into the continent’s emerging “New Space” economy.
In sectors such as agriculture, satellite data is increasingly being used to improve crop monitoring and food security planning. In urban development, geospatial tools are helping cities manage rapid population growth and infrastructure demands. Meanwhile, in mining and natural resource management, remote sensing technologies are improving efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
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The 2026 edition is expected to build on the outcomes of the inaugural forum, with a stronger emphasis on partnerships, innovation pipelines, and investment opportunities. Organisers say the goal is to help position Africa not only as a consumer of space technologies, but also as a contributor to global space innovation.
As interest in space applications expands globally, Africa’s engagement is increasingly seen as a strategic step toward improving resilience to climate change, enhancing security capabilities, and supporting sustainable economic development.
The forum’s return to Lomé underscores the city’s growing role as a convening hub for regional technology and innovation dialogues, particularly in emerging sectors such as aerospace and digital infrastructure.
Space Forum Africa is an emerging continental platform focused on advancing Africa’s participation in the global space economy. It brings together policymakers, space agencies, researchers, investors, and private technology firms to discuss how space-based systems—especially satellites and geospatial intelligence—can support development across African economies.
The forum is organised by African Geospace, a space and geospatial innovation initiative led by Richard Folly, with the aim of strengthening Africa’s role in the so-called “New Space” era—where commercial companies, not just governments, are driving rapid innovation in satellite technology, Earth observation, and data analytics.
The event is hosted in Lomé, Togo, a city that has been positioning itself as a regional hub for digital innovation and international conferences. By bringing the forum to Lomé, organisers aim to anchor West Africa more firmly in global conversations about space technology and its applications.
Across the continent, interest in space capabilities has been growing steadily. Several African countries—including South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Rwanda, and Kenya—have invested in satellite programmes for communication, climate monitoring, agriculture planning, and disaster management. However, the ecosystem remains fragmented, with limited coordination, funding gaps, and dependence on external partners.
