Angola, a resource-rich country on the southwest coast of Africa, is working hard to experience a renaissance. A robust GDP growth of 4.1% in the first quarter of 2024, driven by rising oil prices, is an encouraging sign. However, under President João Lourenço’s leadership, Angola has actively courted international investors and partners to diversify its economic base and strengthen its global footprint.

This strategic approach has significantly warmed relations between the United States and Angola, culminating in the highly anticipated visit of President Joe Biden in early December. This visit underscores a broader narrative about Angola’s ambitions on the international stage, particularly through the lens of its space program.

Space domain : US-Angola partnership

The Angolan Space Agency, officially known as the National Office for Space Program Management (GGPEN), was founded in 2010. It has made significant progress in recent years, reflecting the country’s leap towards technological advancement for economic prosperity.

The partnership between the United States and Angola in the space domain saw significant advancements in November 2023. Angola signed the Artemis Accords on best practices in space exploration, facilitated by NASA and the US State Department. The space theme was addressed during an official meeting between Presidents Biden and Lourenço at the White House at the same time. The New Space Africa 2024 conference, held in Luanda with notable US participation, along with regular defense dialogues and visits between the two countries, further emphasized the commitment to deepening international space cooperation. This collaboration extends to various security aspects such as maritime security, cyber defense, and capacity building.

Birth and evolution of GGPEN

Much of this Angolan space growth was unimaginable just 15 years ago. Russia played a significant role in realizing Angola’s space ambitions. Angola’s space project truly began in 2009 when Luanda and Moscow signed an agreement for Russia to help build and launch Angola’s first satellite, named ANGOSAT, to improve its telecommunications system. Like many African space agencies, investments and human capacities are key issues for Angola.

ANGOSAT-1 was financed by the Russian exporter Rosoboron with a 300 million USD loan. ANGOSAT-2 represented another collaborative effort between Russia and Angola, with financial support from Russian sources and participation from the Russian aerospace company RSC Energia. This initiative also included joint efforts from Angolan and Russian engineers and scientists.

This led to the launch of ANGOSAT-2 on October 12, 2022, from Kazakhstan. Today, this satellite is a key element of Angola’s National Maritime Coordination and Surveillance Center and the country’s first Mission Control Center (MCC), both inaugurated by President Lourenço in January 2024. In September 2024, President Lourenço approved 237 million USD in funding for a third Angolan satellite. ANGOSAT-3, or ANGEO-1 as it has also been called, is financed by the French export credit agency Bpifrance AE, in the form of an export credit and a commercial loan from the French financial institution Société Générale.

The satellite will be Angola’s first high-performance Earth observation satellite manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space in France. It will support strategic areas for Angola such as agriculture and drought management, as well as other development challenges. The Angolan space agency GGPEN is led by Director General Dr. Zolana João, who, like her country, is no stranger to challenges.

Angolan space program : US assistance

The United States aims to help Angola and other African countries strengthen their space technology capabilities, not only for communications but also for applications in agriculture, environmental monitoring, and disaster management.

In addition to Russia and the United States, Angola has agreements with other countries, including its former colonial power, Portugal. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding in June 2023, committing to promote, similar to what the Portuguese Space Agency has agreed with Brazil, the implementation of a program on space technologies within the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.

Angola’s exciting space future

Angola’s advances in the space sector are significant as they represent a smart diplomatic and economic strategy. While space is useful for economic sectors like oil and mining, it also highlights the country’s efforts towards economic diversification.

This project can potentially energize other sectors such as defense, education, and telecommunications. Additionally, it positions Angola for greater recognition in Africa through the Southern African Development Community and the African Union, and on the global stage through institutions like the United Nations. This is particularly true as Luanda expands its partnerships with space nations like Russia and the United States, as well as companies like Airbus. There is a prestigious aspect to this, but there are also more tangible benefits.

The Angolan space program is still in its early stages but is evolving rapidly. It is expected to expand its focus on satellite technology, foster international partnerships, and integrate space initiatives with the country’s development goals. However, achieving these objectives will depend on securing financial resources, overcoming technical challenges, and developing local expertise in space technology.

This is where the potential of US-Angolan relations lies. One aspect is capacity building, where US institutions and companies can contribute to training Angolan engineers and other essential personnel needed for future projects. There is also a real opportunity for US commercial space companies and joint space infrastructure. This can enhance Africa’s technological landscape while offering new markets for US companies in Angola and across Africa.

President Biden’s visit marks a turning point in bilateral relations between the United States and Angola. Given the significance of this high-level diplomatic engagement, significant announcements are expected during the visit, which could take US-Angolan space relations to new heights.