Pretoria: South Africa will host the 17th Africa Regional Round of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition next week. The Chief Director of Space Affairs at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) and Africa Regional Coordinator for the competition, Nomfuneko Majaja, emphasized the continent's aim to be central in shaping global space governance, addressing challenges like climate change, food security, resource management, and water security.
According to South African Government News Agency, Majaja remarked that hosting the 17th African Regional Round is an investment in the continent's strategic future in outer space governance, innovation, and international legal scholarship. This year's theme focuses on strengthening Africa's human capital, institutional capacity, and regulatory frameworks to leverage space technology for industrialization, socio-economic development, scientific advancement, and sustainable growth.
The competition is set to take place at the Casa Toscana Convention Centre in Pretoria from 25-26 May 2026. Majaja highlighted the success of last year's participants, noting Strathmore University's progression to the global semi-finals as evidence of the continent's talent and vision necessary to influence international space law. The platform aims to develop African legal professionals who will contribute to policy drafting, treaty negotiations, and regulation of commercial space activities.
Following the successful 16th edition hosted in South Africa in 2025, the 2026 edition will bring together emerging legal minds from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. These teams will compete for the privilege of representing Africa at the world finals in Trkiye during the International Astronautical Congress.
The regional rounds, organized by the dtic in collaboration with the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), will be under the theme: 'Empowering Africa's Future in Space Governance for Sustainable Space Activities.' The theme emphasizes the need to enhance legal, policy, regulatory, and institutional capacity to engage in the global space economy effectively.
The department stated that the theme highlights space technology's role in socio-economic development, industrialization, implementing the African Union space policy and strategy, and ensuring a stronger continental voice in global space governance. The 2026 competition builds on the previous year's momentum, reflecting South Africa's dedication to multilateral cooperation, responsible innovation, and the peaceful use of outer space.
A distinguished panel of judges from Canada and several African countries will evaluate the competition, reinforcing the international reputation and credibility of the regional rounds. Majaja noted that former participants have already engaged in various segments of the space economy, underscoring the competition's role as a strategic platform for skill development in a sector vital to everyday activities like navigation, communications, and environmental monitoring.
In addition to the moot court competition, students will attend the Africa Space Law Conference at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation from 28-29 May 2026. This conference will allow them to interact with policymakers, academics, regulators, and industry leaders on current issues in international space governance.