Djibouti has become the 72nd signatory to the Artemis Accords, a U.S.-led international framework aimed at promoting the peaceful, responsible and sustainable exploration and use of outer space.
The signing took place on Monday at NASA headquarters in Washington, during a ceremony attended by NASA Deputy Administrator Matthew Anderson and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia, among others.
Djibouti was represented by its ambassador to the United States, Mohamed Siad Douale, who officially signed the accords on behalf of his country.
By joining the Artemis Accords, Djibouti commits to a set of principles designed to guide civil space exploration and promote sustainable international cooperation.
Launched in 2020 by the United States and seven other countries, the initiative aims in particular to promote the responsible exploration of the Moon and, more broadly, outer space. The U.S. Department of State and NASA are responsible for promoting and implementing the accords on behalf of Washington.
Djibouti’s accession comes as part of growing space cooperation between the country and the United States. In April 2026, Djibouti had already participated in a meeting focused on technical and regulatory training in the space sector, organized under the U.S.-Africa partnership.
Djibouti also has initial experience in the satellite sector. Its first two satellites were launched from Vandenberg in the United States in 2023 and 2024.
This latest step comes as several African countries accelerate the development of their space capabilities, particularly in telecommunications, Earth observation, natural resource management and scientific research.
