A couple of African countries are participating in the ongoing COPUOS S&T subcommittee meeting. Statements have been made by Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan as well as a joint statement by the African Group.

Highlights of the statement by the Africa group include:

•  21 countries, out of the 55 Member States of the African Union (AU) are members of COPUOS. Hence, more outreach is needed.
• A call for African countries to integrate space activities into their national development agendas
• A call for strengthening of legal frameworks to enhance international cooperation
• A call to preserve access to, and peaceful use of outer space, including addressing the issues of space debris, megaconstellations and securitisation of space
• A call for the S&T subcommittee to promote equal, non-discriminatory access to space
• A call for closer cooperation between United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the African Union Commission (AUC)
• Commendation of the new UNOOSA Vision & Strategy, and the priority given to Africa
• A call for engagement of more Africans at UNOOSA secretariat