Overview of the Implementation Status of the Five United Nations Treaties on Outer Space in African Countries

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the five major UN Treaties on Outer Space. Each of these Treaties are briefly discussed and assessed with particular emphasis on aspects relevant to Africa. Very few African countries have ratified these Treaties, as well as enacted domestic space legislation. The paper concludes with an assessment of Africa’s involvement in multilateral space fora such as OOSA and UNCOPUOS. It also offers recommendations to improve African countries’ ratification and compliance with these Treaties.