Rwanda Signs Landmark Deal to Advance Satellite Navigation Across Africa

The Rwanda Space Agency  has joined the Augmented Navigation for Africa (ANGA)  programme, marking a significant step toward strengthening satellite navigation capabilities across the African continent.

The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Kigali on May 7, 2026, by Gaspard Twagirayezu and Prosper Zo’o Minto’o. The agreement brings Rwanda into the ANGA programme’s Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) initiative, which aims to improve the accuracy, reliability, and availability of satellite navigation services across Africa.

Under the agreement, Rwanda will host and operate an ANGA Mission Control Centre, a key component of the continent-wide navigation infrastructure. The partnership will also support the adoption and use of ANGA services within Rwanda, helping to enhance positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities for a range of sectors, including aviation, transportation, agriculture, and infrastructure development.

The initiative is being led by Agency for Air Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar, which is spearheading efforts to establish an African-led satellite navigation solution designed to meet the continent’s unique development needs.

ANGA officials said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to leveraging advanced space technologies to drive social and economic development across Africa. By bringing Rwanda into the programme, the initiative seeks to harness African expertise and strengthen regional cooperation in the deployment of critical navigation services.

The addition of Rwanda is viewed as an important milestone in ANGA’s long-term vision of delivering a continental Satellite-Based Augmentation System that enhances navigation safety, supports innovation, and contributes to economic growth across Africa.

As African countries increasingly invest in space and digital infrastructure, the partnership underscores Rwanda’s growing role in the continent’s emerging space ecosystem and its commitment to adopting technologies that support sustainable development and regional integration.