Africa To Set Up its own Space agency

Just heard the funniest news there is to hear today, and i was sorta hoping it was hoax, so googled and googled, checked and re-checked my sources and my friends, its true...Africa is setting up its own space agency!! I don't  know if i should be devastated or excited!!!Apparently 53 member states of the African Union approved this move earlier this month, it  was made at the close of the third African Union Conference for Ministers in charge of Communications and Information Technologies meeting in Abuja 6th August.After a planned feasibility study that is. It would be known as the African Space Agency, would be intended to help ensure the continent becomes an important player in the global space programme.  As much as that i feel that Its 'bout time that we have our own space agency, there's just soo much going on.

The continent-wide policy would be developed in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. It's be nice to see Africans in space for a change, it has a nice ring to it, I'd like to see some Ebo, Ocheng Olango and some Marealle, Mwakisyesye up on the moon with some African Flags up there...

African Union Conference in Abuja

Also pan-African satellite was launched earlier this month (successfully btw) by the Regional African Satellite Communications Organization .And I heard Preparations for the launch began almost twenty years ago, in 1991, but minor setbacks held it up until 2007, when the satellite was first launched into orbit - it had some technical problems...Boohoo!! The ITU will provide advice to Africa on technical issues involved with setting up the agency, its spokesperson, Sarah Parkes, (told SciDev.Net.)
Jonathan Mahlangu, a South Africa-based policy analyst said that the plan by the African Union was long overdue. "Think of the contributions of NASA and ESA to the development of America and Europe," he said. "A well coordinated space agency for Africa will assist in solving most of the challenges before her."
According to Mahlangu the critical mass of experts to kick-start the agency already exists. "All African Union needs to do is to put up a call to her citizens in NASA and Europe to come and contribute with their knowledge."

My Big surprise come here, so these AU guys are soo good at planning stuff and doing big things, their venture into space is real big i gotta say, a space project don't come cheap, that's for sure. How they can set up an gazillion dollar space project and still have a dozen impoverished states back down here is upon me!
I hope this is not like one of those things African leaders promise to do when they panic and the election is round the corner....i just really wanna see how this ends, or should i say..'starts' Is the African space Agency relevant?? Yes!!
(source AllAfrica.com)