Africa’s future participation in the space economy will also depend on its legal and regulatory frameworks, highlighted Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic) chief director of space affairs Nomfuneko Majaja. She was addressing the seventeenth African Regional Round of the Manfred Luchs Space Law Moot Court Competition (of which she was the African regional coordinator) at the Casa Toscana Convention Centre, in Pretoria.

“Africa’s future in outer space governance will not only depend on technology and infrastructure, but equally on strong legal minds, sound policy frameworks, international cooperation and visionary leadership,” she said. “This competition therefore represents far more than a legal exercise. It is an investment in Africa’s future leadership, diplomacy, innovation, governance, and sustainable development within the global space arena.”

She assured that the dtic was committed to supporting the peaceful and responsible uses of space and to the strengthening of Africa’s role in international space governance processes. It was also committed to promoting inclusive industrial development and innovation in the South African space sector. 

Majaja pointed out that former participants in the competition, from institutions such as Midlands State University in Zimbabwe, the University of Calabar in Nigeria and the University of Pretoria in South Africa, were now making meaningful contributions in various sectors of space governance and the space economy. “This demonstrates the strategic value of this competition as a long-term investment in Africa’s human capital and future leadership in outer space governance.”

Participating in the competition were law students from Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. They had to argue complicated hypothetical disputes before a simulated International Court of Justice.

The competition is held annually and under the auspices of the International Institute of Space Law. This event was co-hosted by the dtic and the South African National Space Agency.   

The competition’s participants will also attend the African Space Policy and Law Conference. Hosted by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, this will be held on May 28 and 29.