Cameroonian President Paul Biya (pictured) is seeking space cooperation with the US agency NASA. He expressed this interest during the first-ever US- Africa Space Forum held in Washington on the sidelines of the US-African Leaders Summit.

"Conquering space seems to me to be both an opportunity and an imperative. In this dynamic, cooperation with partner countries, which have a definite lead in this area, is essential," the African leader said. In response, the State Department reassured that the Biden administration is willing to work with African countries in the peaceful exploration of outer space.

President Biya also called for a transfer of technology that will help the national space project to take off permanently. In 2019, the Cameroonian Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng, created by decision a working group to conduct a feasibility study for a space program called Camspace.

The Artemis Accords

The Cameroonian leader said the time has come for Cameroon to launch a satellite into space and help find sustainable answers to climate crises, urban disorder, and even terrorism. "My country believes that outer space should be leveraged for the benefit of all," he said. This is an opportunity for the US government to expand the list of signatory countries to the NASA Artemis agreements, a set of agreements that lay out a framework for responsible exploration of the moon.

In Africa, only Rwanda and Nigeria have already signed these agreements. However, non-official sources reported that Cameroon should soon join.

Michel Ange Nga