Senegal is the 56th country to sign the Artemis Accords, which establish a practical set of principles to guide space exploration cooperation among nations participating in NASA’s Artemis programme.
Senegal has joined the Artemis Accords, becoming the 56th nation to endorse the global framework for peaceful and transparent space exploration. The signing took place during a ceremony hosted by NASA at its headquarters in Washington.
Maram Kairé, Director General of the Senegalese Agency for Space Studies (ASES), signed the accords on behalf of Senegal, with participation from Jonathan Pratt, senior bureau official for African Affairs at the US Department of State, and Abdoul Wahab Haidara, Senegal’s ambassador to the United States. The event follows a recent Washington meeting between Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and former US President Donald Trump, as part of broader discussions on US-Africa engagement.
Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy said: “Following a meeting between Senegal President Faye and President Trump, today, NASA built upon the strong relations between our two nations as the Senegalese Agency for Space Studies signed the Artemis Accords. With Senegal as the 56th signatory, I am proud to further President Trump’s strong legacy of global cooperation in space.”
“Senegal’s adherence to the Artemis Accords reflects our commitment to a multilateral, responsible, and transparent approach to space,” added Kairé. “This signature marks a meaningful step in our space diplomacy and in our ambition to contribute to the peaceful exploration of outer space.”
Senegal’s astronomers have previously collaborated with NASA on scientific missions, including a 2021 campaign to observe asteroid Orus from the ground. During the event, astronomers used telescopes to measure the asteroid’s dimensions as it passed in front of a star. This data will support NASA’s Lucy mission, which will fly by Orus in 2028 as part of its exploration of Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids.
The Artemis Accords, established in 2020 by the United States and seven founding partners, set forth guiding principles for civil space exploration. These include commitments to peaceful use, transparency, international cooperation, scientific data sharing, non-interference and the preservation of space heritage. The accords also encourage development of best practices for sustainable space activity.
With growing global interest in lunar and deep space missions, NASA anticipates that more countries will join the Artemis Accords, reinforcing the shared goal of a secure, cooperative and beneficial space environment for all humanity.