Djibouti Becomes Eighth African Nation to Sign the Artemis Accords
The Republic of Djibouti has become the eighth African country to sign the Artemis Accords, joining a growing coalition of nations committed to advancing a rules-based framework for peaceful and transparent space exploration. The signing ceremony took place at NASA Headquarters in Washington, with Djibouti’s Ambassador to the United States, Mohamed Siad Douale, signing on behalf of the country. Djibouti is the 72nd nation overall to join the Accords.
NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson hosted the ceremony, which was also attended by U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Frank Garcia.
“Djibouti joins this coalition of like-minded nations at an important time,” said Anderson. “President Trump has directed NASA to return Americans to the lunar surface, establish an enduring presence, and lay the foundation for human exploration of Mars. NASA will lead, but we will not do it alone. We are creating opportunities for Artemis Accords nations to contribute hardware, scientific payloads, technology demonstrations, CubeSats, and other capabilities to future missions.”
Ambassador Douale framed Djibouti’s signature as the beginning of a deeper engagement with the international space community.
“By joining the Artemis Accords, Djibouti seeks to deepen its partnership with the United States and with the growing community of nations committed to peaceful space cooperation. We look forward to building partnerships in scientific research, satellite applications, education, and technical training, while creating new opportunities for Djibouti students, researchers, engineers, and entrepreneurs,” he said.
A Space Programme Built on Steady Progress
Djibouti’s accession to the Accords reflects a national space programme that has developed steadily since its launch in 2020, managed by the Centre for Studies and Research of Djibouti within the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. The country successfully launched its first satellite, Djibouti-1A, in November 2023 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-9 rideshare from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, followed by a second satellite, Djibouti-1B, in 2024, also launched aboard a Falcon 9 from the same facility.
Africa’s Growing Presence in the Artemis Framework
With Djibouti’s signature, eight African nations have now joined the Artemis Accords, four of them in 2026 alone. The pace reflects a continent that is moving with increasing purpose toward formalising its role in the framework shaping the next era of space exploration.
The journey to eight began in December 2022, when Nigeria and Rwanda became the first African signatories at the inaugural U.S.-Africa Space Forum. Angola joined in November 2023, followed by Senegal in July 2025. The year 2026 then brought a wave of new accessions: Morocco in April, Botswana in June, Mauritius in July, and now Djibouti, bringing the African total to eight in under four years.