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ECOWAS Envoy Arrives in Mali for Talks, Nigeria and South Africa to Cooperate On Outer Space Activities

February 24, 2022

Former Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, representing the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

 

South Africa: There's a Case for Nigeria and South Africa to Cooperate On Outer Space Activities

All African News, 24 FEBRUARY 2022

By Etim Offiong

The Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission is a laudable idea. It was established in 1999 to strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa on trade, economy, politics and governance.

But it has one missing element. That is cooperation on space activities. Cooperation on space between the two countries would advance the efforts of the African Outer Space Programme.

The space programme is one of the priority areas of the Agenda 2063, the African Union's framework for regional integration and socio-economic development.

African Heads of States and Governments adopted the African Space Policy and Strategy in 2016. The policy guides the implementation of the African Outer Space Programme. There is also the African Space Agency which was established in 2018 to coordinate space activities in the continent.

But the successful implementation of the AU's space programme depends on cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa. They are the top two countries in the region in terms of economy, science and space.

Space cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa is not only advantageous on its own. It can be used to achieve other goals, including job creation for both Nigerians and South Africans through joint research.

There are four thematic areas which could underpin their cooperation. They are earth observation, satellite communication, navigation and positioning, as well as space science and astronomy.

Potential areas of cooperation

Earth Observation: This entails taking pictures of the Earth surface from an elevated platform. These are then analysed, interpreted, and the findings used for policy and decision making.

Among platforms that are used for taking these pictures are balloons, aircraft, High-Altitude Platforms (HAPs) and satellites. Of these, only satellites are the most stable.

Nigeria has three Earth Observation satellites - the NigeriaSat-1, NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X.

These polar-orbting satellites would be more useful to South Africa because it is closer to the Antarctic. In addition, South Africa has the capability to process, analyse and interpret data.

Cooperation on space between the two nations would give South Africa access to images from these Nigerian satellites. Nigeria would, in turn, gain access to South Africa's technical knowledge.

Nigeria and South Africa are among the four signatories to the African Resource Management Constellation. Signatories donate a satellite to the constellation, giving them access to data from other satellites. Of the four signatories (Algeria and Kenya being the other two), only Nigeria and South Africa have contributed satellites, though the satellites have passed their life-time. Nigeria-South Africa space cooperation could be a step towards reviving the initiative.

Each country would also benefit from the other's networks. But this would require that Nigeria and South Africa have a working data access and sharing agreement. Nigeria is part of the disaster monitoring constellation (DMC), alongside Algeria, Turkey and the United Kingdom. South Africa is part of the BRICS remote sensing satellite constellation.

Satellite communication: This is used for long-distance communication and for connecting remote parts of a country. Satellite communication services in Nigeria and South Africa are mostly run by foreign companies.

In 2011, Nigeria procured from China a communication satellite, Nigcomsat-1R. The objective was to reduce communication costs and to increase rural connectivity.

South Africa is building its first communications satellite, but this is being delayed by funding.

South Africa could licence Nigcomsat Limited  to operate which could reduce the cost of communication services in South Africa.

Navigation and Positioning: The Global Navigation Satellite System is used in a number of applications, including precision agriculture, exact timing, and surveying.

The Chinese and the European Union are pushing for their navigation satellite services to be used across Africa. The EU has extended the operation of its Space-based augmentation system into Africa. China is advocating for the use of its Beidou system .

The interoperability and compatibility of these global navigation satellite systems hasn't been resolved. This leaves the African continent at a risk of errors, inconsistencies or total loss of satellite navigation services.

Hence, there is an urgent need for African countries to cooperate, coordinate and harmonise satellite services. South Africa and Nigeria can take the lead.

Space Science and Astronomy: Astronomy is the study of objects and processes that occur outside the Earth's atmosphere.

South Africa has several astronomical facilities. These include the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory; South African Large Telescope; South African Radio-Astronomy Observatory; South African Astronomical Observatory; and SANSA Space Science (formerly called Hermanus Magnetic Observatory).

The South African Astronomical Observatory's optical telescopes at the Sutherland station have been upgraded. They can now be operated remotely from anywhere in the world via the Internet. Thus, astronomers in Nigeria can tap into the South African telescopes from their desktop computers.

They only need to negotiate observing slots with the South African Astronomical Observatory.

There is increasing interest in how the Sun affects the Earth and its environment, referred to as Space weather. This phenomenon can disrupt power supply and satellite navigation signals.

It is therefore mutually beneficial for Nigeria and South Africa to cooperate on space weather and atmospheric research. This will further their understanding of the solar weather phenomenon, predict its occurrence and then prepare for it.

South Africa: There's a Case for Nigeria and South Africa to Cooperate On Outer Space Activities - allAfrica.com

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ECOWAS envoy arrives in Mali for talks

By Africanews, with AFP

 February 24, 2022

An envoy from West Africa's regional bloc arrived in Mali on Thursday, an AFP journalist saw, for talks with the military junta over restoring civilian rule in the volatile country.

Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, representing the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is due to meet junta officials in the capital Bamako, including the leader Colonel Assimi Goita.

Mali, a conflict-ridden Sahel nation of 21 million, is governed by a junta that seized power in August 2020 -- and has so far resisted international pressure to swiftly restore civilian rule.

On Tuesday, Jonathan urged Mali to transition towards democracy as soon as possible, describing the country's government as an "aberration."

He made the comments a day after Mali's army-dominated legislature approved a bill allowing the junta to rule for up to five years.

Jonathan suggested on Tuesday that the timeframe was unacceptable. "We are going to negotiate further with them, and see that they must reduce it," he said.

A document from an ECOWAS technical committee, seen by AFP on Thursday, proposes that Mali stage an election within 12 or 16 months.

Mali's army ousted elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita after weeks of protests fuelled by frustations over perceived government corruption and an ongoing jihadist conflict.

Much of the vast former French colony is plagued by a jihadist insurgency that first emerged in 2012 before spreading to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.

Thousands of soldiers and civilians have died in the Sahel-wide conflict and around two million have been displaced, despite the presence of foreign troops.

France has thousands of troops deployed across the Sahel as part of its anti-jihadist Barkhane force -- the majority in Mali.

French President Emmanuel Macron this month announced a troop withdrawal from Mali after a breakdown in relations with the junta, however.

ECOWAS envoy arrives in Mali for talks | Africanews

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President Kenyatta endorses Raila Odinga in upcoming presidential election

By Africanews,  February 24, 2022 

President Uhuru Kenyatta offically endorsed long-time rival Raila Odinga, on Wednesday.

During an address before his Jubilee party supporters on Wednesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta said Raila Odinga "meant well for the country".

President Kenyatta urged leaders from Central Kenya to cast their ballot for 77 year-old Odinga.

Presidential elections are set for August 9.

It will be the fifth time Mr Odinga runs for president. He will vie for the presidency as the Azimio la Umoja alliance preferred candidate. The alliance is made up of parties such as Mr Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party and, now, Mr Odigan’s Orange Democratic Movement.

The president's endorsement of Raila Odinga futher isolates deputy President William Ruto, who will run as the United Democratic Alliance nominee.

President Kenyatta endorses Raila Odinga in upcoming presidential election | Africanews

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