## 3 Technical Features and Socio-Legal Characteristics of Africa's Satellite Constellation
### Earth Observation and Remote Sensing in the Maritime Sectors
Remote sensing activities are one of the core areas of the utilization of outer space science. It is difficult to overestimate the usefulness of this application to commercial and exploitative activities on earth. Such activities have led to the discovery of sites of archaeological value including an ancient Peruvian pyramid [69], ancient canals in the heart of an Arizona City [69], new Egyptian pyramids [70; 71] and about 14,000 Mesopotamian settlement sites, which span some 8000 years [72]. One of the most sensational aspects of satellite imagery and remote sensing applications in relation to Africa has been the astonishing discovery of long lost wall features which indeed constitute evidence of pre-existing relict boundaries [73]. Evidence has been emanating from recent satellite imagery and orthorectified imagery as well as archaeological studies that provide overwhelming evidence of other culturally significant heritage sites and features all over Africa. These include magnificent city walls,mounds and man built ditches as well as other very precise boundary features and markers separating pre-colon African cities, states and political groups. City walls as archaeological sites add significant tourism value to cities and the discovery of new sites can be of serious economic value to modern states [74; 75; 76]. Africa's current boom in the discovery of walls through earth observation is highlighted by the fact that records now reveal between Lake Chad and the Atlantic Ocean, in West Africa, about 10,000 town and city walls at least 25% of which are on presently deserted sites. This makes it possible to easily tap into the commercial and touristic value of these sites if the governments of Africa and the private sector choose to invest in these discoveries. It is particularly important to consider the socio-legal aspects of the practice of remote sensing on heritage conservation with respect to the birthplace of mankind. Apart from the conservation and tourism value, relict wall discoveries can be of immense evidential value in law. These include their usefulness in dealing with on-going and future self-determination struggles as well as resolution of international and national boundary disputes. The existence of impressive and significant relics all over Africa arguably indicate pre-existing African indigenous sovereignties which flies in the face of popular assertions that Africa was largely unmanned and undeveloped before relatively recent European colonization, Sovereignty is both a legal and political concept of universal significance across human cultures and with manifestation in time and space. The concept is political in conception and is popularly symbolised by the [PERSON] [PERSON]. It implies the supreme authority of a state, which recognises no higher authority in the region. Sovereignty of an independent state, therefore, sums up the essence of statehood, and the power it expresses within a territory is at least equal to but often even greater than the sum of the power symbolised in the person of the sovereign [77; 78].