Scientific studies of space in Africa: The challenges

International audienceAfter the International Geophysical Year IGY, in 1957, several studies on the Earths magnetic field, and Ionosphere were developed in Africa. During the sixties, seventies and eighties , international African scientists (P. Gouin, C.A Onwumechili, O. Fambitakoye, S. Ogunade etc) with European and American scientists (P.N. Mayaud, P. Vila, A. Richmond etc) have find major results in Geomagnetism, and Ionospheric studies in equatorial Africa. In a first part we review the main advances made by African Scientists by the past. In a second part we present the results on equatorial geophysics obtained since several decades in American and Asian sectors and the topics to develop in research in Africa