Côte d'Ivoire joins Artemis Accords at Africa Space Expo

During the inaugural Africa Space Expo held in Abidjan from September 24 to 26, 2026, Côte d'Ivoire officially signed the Artemis Accords. This makes it the 75th nation to join the NASA-led framework for peaceful lunar and Mars exploration and the ninth African country to do so.

The accords establish guidelines for civil space activities, including scientific data sharing, astronaut assistance, and the preservation of historical space sites. NASA officials noted that the agreement extends the partnership between the United States and Côte d'Ivoire beyond Earth, providing new opportunities for Ivorian scientists.

The expo, organized under the auspices of the African Union and the African Space Agency, also featured significant participation from Morocco. The event brought together representatives from approximately 50 countries to discuss the structuring of the African space sector and the application of space technologies in agriculture, telecommunications, navigation, and disaster management.