This was one of the fallouts of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit held in Washington DC, which featured the first-ever U.S.-Africa Space Forum. The Forum reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to collaborating with African partners on the peaceful use and exploration of outer space to meet shared priorities for here on Earth.

The Forum highlighted the U.S.-Africa space partnership and cooperation to address 21st-century challenges and opportunities, including responding to the climate, biodiversity, and global food crises; promoting responsible behaviour in outer space; and reinforcing U.S.-African scientific and commercial space cooperation. Participants in the Forum committed to deepening the U.S.-Africa space partnership across all sectors.

The Accords affirm the importance of implementing best practices and norms of responsible behaviour as well as compliance with the Registration Convention and the Rescue and Return Agreement. The two countries signed the agreement at a Space forum at the ongoing U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington D.C.

Prof Isa Ali Pantami, Minister of Communications and ICT alongside Halilu Shaba, Director-General of Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria, while Paula Ingabire, Minister of the Ministry of Information Communication Technology and Innovation and Francis Ngabo, CEO of Rwanda Space Agency, signed the Accords on behalf of Rwanda.