Djibouti will become the 72nd country to join the Artemis Accords after an in-person signing at NASA Headquarters at 11 a.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 14. The formal accession increases the number of states committed to the Accords’ principles for civil space activity.
NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson will host the ceremony, and Ambassador of Djibouti to the United States Mohamed Siad Douale will sign on behalf of his country. The event will include U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Frank Garcia, reflecting the bilateral and interagency role in managing the Accords.
The ceremony is open to media in person only. Reporters who wish to attend must RSVP by 8 a.m. on Sept. 14 to hq-media@mail.nasa.gov and comply with NASA’s media accreditation policy, which is available online. Media inquiries may also be directed to Camille Gallo or Elizabeth Shaw at 202-358-1600 or by email to camille.m.gallo@nasa.gov and elizabeth.a.shaw@nasa.gov.
Established in 2020, the Artemis Accords began when the United States, joined by seven other founding nations, set out a first set of practical principles to promote safety, transparency and coordination for civil exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond. Djibouti’s signature extends that multilateral framework and formally ties the country to those agreed norms.
The immediate consequence is a larger signatory base for the Accords and a continued emphasis on U.S. diplomatic leadership in setting operational and transparency expectations for lunar activity. Because the ceremony is limited to accredited, in-person attendees, coverage will be constrained to outlets able to meet the RSVP and accreditation deadlines. After the ceremony, the Accords’ membership total will stand at 72.
