African Light Source (AfLS)

The African Light Source (AfLS) represents a major international initiative to establish Africa’s first synchrotron radiation facility, envisioned to significantly enhance scientific research capabilities globally—particularly in the Global South, where intellectual infrastructure remains limited. Driven by a consortium of African scientists and international partners, the AfLS aims to bridge global inequalities in scientific infrastructure and foster research in health, energy, and materials science. Our case study closely examines the project's formation, its evolving governance structures, and the critical role science diplomacy plays in mediating North-South relations, securing funding, and promoting capacity building. It also highlights challenges related to resource allocation, international cooperation, and technology transfer within the complex geopolitical landscape of large-scale science infrastructure.