Kenya is hosting a regional technical advisory mission on space law, bringing together representatives from 16 African countries to strengthen national legal frameworks, regulatory institutions and regional cooperation in governing space activities, with the four-day mission running from November 10th to 13th, 2026, at the Luigi Broglio Malindi Space Centre in Malindi.
Organised by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Kenya Space Agency (KSA), the mission is part of UNOOSA’s Global Space Law Project and marks a new chapter in the longstanding partnership between UNOOSA and Italy’s national space agency on the peaceful use and exploration of outer space. The opening ceremony was presided over by Dr Patrick Mariru, Principal Secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Defence, who highlighted the importance of robust legal frameworks in safeguarding national space assets, strengthening national security and promoting the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space.
A central focus of the mission is translating international space law principles into national legislation and institutional arrangements, with African countries establishing and expanding their space programmes facing the task of developing domestic frameworks that define regulatory responsibilities and establish oversight mechanisms for space activities conducted under their jurisdiction. The programme examines the fundamental principles of the Outer Space Treaty, state responsibility and liability for space activities, and the registration of objects launched into outer space, while also exploring the development of national space legislation, including its purpose, scope and key elements.
Particular attention is being given to the legal responsibilities that arise when countries procure satellites, engage foreign launch providers or operate space assets through international partnerships, with these arrangements raising questions about liability allocation and states’ responsibilities under international space law. Other sessions examine the authorisation, licensing and supervision of national space activities, alongside legal frameworks for insurance, liability caps and the transfer of ownership of space objects, with the mission addressing the regulatory requirements of a growing space economy, including Earth observation and the use of space data, radio frequency spectrum, and orbital slots.
The mission also considers how African countries can coordinate their approaches to space governance and strengthen their participation in international decision-making, with a dedicated session examining the African Space Policy and Strategy and the role of the African Space Agency (AfSA) in advancing continental space development through regional cooperation. Through expert presentations, interactive discussions and practical tabletop exercises, participants will examine how these legal and institutional approaches can be adapted to their respective national contexts, with the mission expected to conclude on November 13th with country-level deliberations and presentations of the exercises.
Kenya’s hosting of the mission reflects its broader commitment to promoting responsible and inclusive space governance that supports sustainable development and ensures equitable access to the benefits of space science and technology, with Kenya underscoring the central role of international space law, including the five United Nations treaties governing outer space activities, in establishing the framework for the peaceful, safe and responsible exploration and use of outer space. The mission builds on Kenya’s earlier hosting of the Global Data Festival and the Kenya Space Expo and Conference in June 2026, which highlighted the contribution of Earth observation, geospatial technologies, artificial intelligence and advanced data systems to sustainable development and resilience.
UNOOSA’s missions have a proven track record, with states the organisation has worked with having ratified treaties, established space agencies and registered their satellites, with the partnership with Italy allowing UNOOSA to bring hands-on legal and regulatory expertise directly to African states so they can engage in space on their own terms. The mission’s focus on space law is particularly timely given the rapid growth of the global space economy, with space law determining whether a country can participate in the space economy on equal terms, according to UNOOSA Director Aarti Holla-Maini.
The challenge now is to ensure that the legal frameworks developed through the mission are effectively implemented and adapted to the unique needs and circumstances of African countries, with the mission’s emphasis on regional cooperation and the African Space Agency reflecting a recognition that collective action is essential to addressing the challenges of space governance on the continent. The outcome of the mission will likely shape the direction of space law development across Africa, with the initiative’s success depending on the ability of participating countries to translate the legal and institutional approaches discussed into concrete policy and regulatory reforms.
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