Published on5 February 2026 · byLe bureau de l'AIA
Why Côte d’Ivoire needs its own observatory
Our most ambitious project: a national astronomical observatory, the first stone of a true Ivorian space agency.
West Africa is one of the least covered regions in the world for astronomical infrastructure. Yet science has never been more accessible: modest, well-located, well-run observatories now produce data useful to the international community — asteroid follow-up, occultations, variable stars.
That is the point of our observatory project: a permanent site with quality instruments, open to researchers, students and the public alike. A place where a high-schooler from Abidjan can make their first real scientific measurement.
From observatory to space agency
Space is no longer reserved for major powers: more than fifteen African countries already have a space agency or programme. Satellite data for agriculture, remote sensing, engineering training: the benefits are concrete. We advocate for Côte d’Ivoire to take its place in this momentum — and we are working on it, step by step.
Institutions, patrons, scientific diaspora: this will be built together. Let’s talk.