Djibouti has signed the Artemis Accords, the NASA-led set of principles for exploring the Moon and Mars, according to Tech Times. The outlet reported the signing on Monday, September 14, 2026, and noted that the country already has satellites in orbit.
With Djibouti's addition, eight African nations are now party to the agreement, Tech Times reported. The Accords now count 72 countries as signatories, according to UNILAD Tech.
The U.S. government welcomed Djibouti's decision to join, according to a statement covered by miragenews.com. The same outlet separately reported Djibouti's entry into the Accords.
The Artemis Accords lay out shared guidelines for civil space exploration, and the NASA-led framework has expanded steadily since it was first introduced. Djibouti's existing satellite presence means the country brings operational space assets to the arrangement, not just a signature.
Djibouti's move reflects a broader trend of African states joining the framework. The continent's representation now stands at eight nations, a figure that has grown as more countries sign on to the U.S.-backed principles.
What to watch next: whether other African countries follow Djibouti in signing the Accords, and how the growing roster of signatories affects the direction of the Artemis program.
