## 2 The Scope of Space Law in Africa
#### Emergent Patterns in African Domestic Space related Policies and Space Dedicated Legislation
South Africa is also member of UNCOPUOS, APRSFAF and ITU and UNIDROIT. It is notable that South Africa alone has made elaborate provisions jointly for laws over persons in space (jurisdiction _ratione personae:_ refers to the personal jurisdiction over natural and corporate persons bearing the nationality of a state.) [27] and over space objects (jurisdiction _ratione materiae_ which is the jurisdiction of states over vessels and objects like ships, aircraft, spacecraft that bear the flag of a state and are therefore, subject to the jurisdiction of the flag state) [27]. In South Africa's jurisdictional powers as a state are expressed in its space law with respect to personal application, territorial application and extraterritorial application [28]. Nigeria's comprehensive national space legislation/regulation is the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASDRA) Act 2010 [29] which among other things created its own space agency. Nigeria is a member of UNCOPUOS, ITU and UNIDROIT. The scope of the NASRDA Act covers regulation of Space objects launch and return; Space objects control; Ground segment operation and Space technology. The country has legal mechanisms in place to monitor and control; Authorization and licensing; Continuous supervision of non-governmental activity; Liability and insurance; Transfer of ownership in space or space objects control; Safety or space debris removal; State strategic interest; Registration process or registry. Nigeria for its part similarly provides for jurisdiction over materials placed in space and space objects. Indeed only Nigerian Law specifically provides for space objects control. However, by leaving out provisions _rationae personae_, the country's space regime arguably falls short of its ambitious space programme which includes running its own indigenous astronauts programme. Furthermore, specific rules regarding space object launch and return, space technology and ground segment operation provisions are to be found in the dedicated, domestic legislation of Nigeria and South Africa. Nigeria, alone has fairly suitable provisions on the transfer of ownership in space for space objects control as well as for the safety of operations and space debris control. South Africa uniquely has provisions providing for an insurance ceiling [28]. Both Nigeria and South Africa commendably provide specific rules for authorisation and licensing, as well as mandatory rules prescribing continuous exercise of supervision. Both countries laws control non-governmental entities and the duty of operators to maintain liability and insurance. With respect to provisions indicating the State's strategic interests, the policies and laws of Algeria, Nigeria and South Africa are presently the clearest and most ambitious. This includes transparent provisions covering the registration process for all materials in space and establishment of registry for space objects launched on the account or with the permission of the state, such as Licensing and Duties and Liabilities of Licensee of the Space Affairs Act (respectively) (South Africa, 1993) Statutes of the Republic of South Africa-Trade and Industry No. 84 of 1993 (Assented to 23 June 1993) (Date of Commencement: 6 September 1993). For Nigeria's licensing and registration regimes see S. 9 and 10 of the NASRDA Act (2010)