By Asha Elmi - Reporter
WASHINGTON, U.S., September 15, 2026 - Djibouti became the 72nd country to sign the Artemis Accords on Monday, joining a U.S.-led diplomatic framework aimed at promoting cooperation and peaceful exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond, the state-owned Djibouti News Agency (ADI) reported.
Djibouti's Ambassador to the United States, Mohamed Siad Douale, signed the agreement on behalf of his country during a ceremony at NASA headquarters in Washington.
The signing took place at the Mary W. Jackson building in the presence of NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson and Frank Garcia, deputy secretary of state for African affairs.
“Djibouti joins this coalition of nations sharing the same values at a critical moment,” Anderson said during the ceremony.
The U.S. State Department's Bureau of African Affairs welcomed Djibouti as the 72nd signatory, saying the country had formalised its commitment to the peaceful exploration of space.
Djibouti is the eighth African country to join the Artemis Accords, according ADI.
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The country has also developed its own space programme. Launched in 2020 under the Djibouti Center for Research and Development (CERD), the programme has been involved in the launch of two satellites, Djibouti 1A in 2023 and Djibouti 1B in 2024.
Both satellites were launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets, ADI said.
The signing came days after Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh attended the International Space Summit in Paris on Sept. 9-10, where nearly 120 delegations discussed issues related to global space governance.
The Artemis Accords were established in 2020 under the first administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. They set out principles including transparency, interoperability and the peaceful use of space, with a focus on activities involving the Moon, Mars and other celestial bodies.
Djibouti's signing adds another African country to the growing group of states seeking to participate in international cooperation on space exploration and governance.