Senegal Joins Artemis Accords

Senegal has officially become the 56th nation to sign the Artemis Accords, as announced by NASA during a ceremony held at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. The accords, which aim to establish a framework for international cooperation in space exploration, were signed by Maram Kairé, Director General of the Senegalese Space Agency (ASES), with representatives from both Senegal and the United States in attendance, including the Ambassador of Senegal to the United States, Abdoul Wahab Haidara, and Jonathan Pratt, Senior Bureau Official for African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy emphasized the significance of the agreement, highlighting the strengthened ties between Senegal and the United States. “With Senegal as the 56th signatory, I am proud to further President Trump’s strong legacy of global cooperation in space,” Duffy stated. The signing event follows a recent meeting between Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and President Trump, which focused on enhancing U.S.-Africa engagement.

Senegal’s participation in the Artemis Accords underscores its commitment to multilateral and responsible space exploration. “This signature marks a meaningful step in our space diplomacy and in our ambition to contribute to the peaceful exploration of outer space,” said Kairé. Senegalese astronomers have previously collaborated with NASA on various missions, including a significant ground observation campaign in 2021 related to the asteroid Orus.

The Artemis Accords, initiated by NASA and the U.S. Department of State in 2020, lay out principles for the safe, transparent, and cooperative exploration of space. With more nations expected to join, these accords aim to ensure that space activities benefit all of humanity through shared scientific data and the peaceful conduct of space exploration activities.