How China ties space projects in Africa with climate and security priorities
- Analysts say Beijing builds satellites, ground stations in Africa and bankrolls programmes in a targeted way while US lacks ‘clear strategy’
- China is exploring African territory for satellite launch sites – a move that may shape the space industry over the next decade
The centre, which is China’s first overseas BeiDou Satellite (BDS) Navigation System built and is funded by China and the Tunisia-based Arab Information and Communication Technology Organisation, “is strategically positioned to promote international exchanges and the global application of BDS”.
Since it opened in 2018, “Africans have shown increasing interest in the BDS system”, according to space researchers.
The centre is part of China’s broader and coordinated involvement in Africa’s space industry and the continent’s social, economic and environmental development – an approach that is in sharp contrast to US activities.
“You know the GPS is global and big but there is a lot of push from the Chinese government to push for the adoption of BeiDou Navigation System in Africa,” said Temidayo Oniosun, the founder and managing director of Space in Africa.
He said more than 14 meetings between Chinese institutions and different layers in the African Union Commission had been held to push along “the massive adoption of the BeiDou Navigation System”.