Côte d’Ivoire signs Artemis Accords to expand civil space exploration

Expanding Space Cooperation in Abidjan

The signing ceremony took place in Côte d’Ivoire’s largest city, bringing together international space officials, including Chargé d’affaires Junaid Munir from the U.S. Department of State, who witnessed the event on behalf of the U.S. government. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson noted the significance of extending bilateral ties beyond Earth.

The United States and Côte d’Ivoire already cooperate on Earth. Today, we expand that partnership beyond it. Joining the Artemis Accords opens new opportunities for our scientists, engineers, and institutions to work together as humanity returns to the Moon and prepares for what comes next.

Matt Anderson, NASA Deputy Administrator

The country’s formal entry into the Accords follows the establishment of the Space Agency of Côte d’Ivoire (ASCI) in 2025. ASCI was created to coordinate national efforts spanning Earth observation, space weather, astronomy, satellite navigation, and communications. Director General of ASCI Tidiane Ouattara described the signing as a major milestone for national ambitions and the wider African Union.

This is a great achievement, and important for Côte d’Ivoire’s ambitions and for the rest of the African Union members.

Tidiane Ouattara, Director General of the Space Agency of Côte d’Ivoire

From Earth Observation Partners to Framework Signatories

Cooperation between Côte d’Ivoire and the United States in space-related sciences predates the recent signing. Since 2019, the National Office of Technical Development of Côte d’Ivoire and NASA have collaborated closely on Earth observation and geodesy, which measures the shape, gravity, and movement of the planet. These cooperative efforts have successfully advanced global geodetic networks and improved space-based measurement techniques.

By signing the Artemis Accords, Côte d’Ivoire aligns its national space program with practical principles designed to govern activities on the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Established in 2020 by NASA, the U.S. State Department, and seven founding nations, the framework commits participating countries to transparent operations, peaceful exploration, rendering emergency assistance to those in need, open sharing of scientific data, avoiding harmful interference with other nations’ missions, and preserving historically significant artifacts and sites in space.

Growing African Participation in the Artemis Coalition

Côte d’Ivoire’s accession arrives just ten days after Djibouti signed the Accords on September 14, 2026, marking a rapid acceleration of African involvement in the framework. African nations now account for approximately 12 percent of the 75 total signatories in the coalition.

In December 2022, Nigeria and Rwanda became signatories, with Angola following in November 2023 and Senegal formally joining in July 2025. Momentum increased notably over the first nine months of 2026, with Morocco joining in April, Botswana in June, Mauritius in July, Djibouti in September, and Côte d’Ivoire rounding out the group as the ninth African member. Hosting the signing ceremony at ASPEX 2026 further highlights the nation's strategic push to act as a convening hub for the burgeoning African space sector.