Rwanda Space Agency CEO Elected as IAF Vice President

On the sidelines of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2025 in Sydney, Australia, the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) General Assembly approved the recommendation of its Nomination Committee, electing four new Vice Presidents. Among them is Gaspard Twagirayezu, Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Space Agency.

The other newly elected Vice Presidents are Yusuf Kirac, President of the Turkish Space Agency; Nikol Koleva, Executive Director of the Space Generation Advisory Council; and Michael López-Alegría, Chief Astronaut. Each will serve a three-year term.

Twagirayezu joins a small number of African leaders who have held IAF Vice-President positions. In 2017, Dr Valanathan Munsami, then CEO of the South African National Space Agency (and currently the Deputy CEO at the Saudi Space Agency), was appointed Vice President for Developing Countries and Emerging Nations during the IAC in Adelaide, Australia. More recently, Asanda Ntisana, Acting Managing Director for Earth Observations at SANSA, was named Vice President for Honours and Awards.

Since assuming office as CEO of the Rwanda Space Agency on September 11, 2024, Twagirayezu has overseen the agency’s shift toward expanding Rwanda’s satellite capabilities and strengthening regulatory and policy frameworks. The agency has been working on projects in Earth observation for agriculture and urban planning, capacity development through academic and industry partnerships, and enhancing Rwanda’s engagement in regional and international space cooperation. These efforts align with Rwanda’s broader strategy of utilising space technologies to support its socio-economic priorities.

His election as IAF Vice President places Rwanda in a stronger position within global space governance forums and provides a channel for greater African participation in shaping international space policy and industry discussions.