Niger opens investigation into $5 million sale of Martian Meteorite found in Agadez region

NIGER’S government has ordered an official investigation after learning that a rare Martian meteorite discovered on its territory was recently sold for over $4 million at a high-profile auction in the United States.

According to a statement issued after a cabinet meeting on July 18, the Nigerien Council of Ministers expressed concern over what it described as a likely case of ‘illicit international trafficking’. Public television broadcast the announcement on Friday, confirming that three ministries—Mines, Higher Education, and Justice—have been instructed to uncover how the meteorite ended up on the auction block in New York.

‘The Council of Ministers was informed of the auction in the United States of America for nearly $5 million of a meteorite discovered in the Agadez region,’ the statement noted. ‘In light of this situation, the Council instructed relevant ministries to conduct investigations and shed light on the case, which likely bears all the hallmarks of illicit international trafficking.’

Sold as ‘largest Martian rock on Earth’

The meteorite, listed as NWA 16788, was sold by Sotheby’s on July 17 for $4.3 million. Weighing 24.5 kg and stretching almost 38.1 cm in length, it was described in the auction catalogue as ‘the largest Martian rock ever found on Earth.’

Western media reports claim the meteorite was first located in 2023 by an unidentified ‘meteorite hunter’. It was then subjected to laboratory analysis by the Shanghai Institute of Astronomy in China, which confirmed its Martian origin. Scientists classified it as a shergottite, a rare type of Martian meteorite formed from volcanic activity on the Red Planet.

Legal and scientific questions swirl

The incident has stirred debate in Niger over scientific ownership, legal jurisdiction, and the growing underground market in rare extraterrestrial objects. Experts say meteorites found on a nation’s soil are typically considered part of its national heritage, often subject to strict export controls.

The government’s swift response signals a growing concern in the Sahelian nation about the loss of valuable scientific and cultural assets to international markets. The Agadez region, a vast desert area in northern Niger, has long been known for its rich geological deposits but also suffers from limited state oversight.

Broader concerns over mineral smuggling

The probe into NWA 16788 comes amid increasing efforts by Nigerien authorities to clamp down on illegal exports of high-value natural resources, including uranium and gold. Analysts say the high-profile nature of this case could serve as a turning point in how such discoveries are tracked and protected under national and international law.

If investigators find evidence of unauthorised export or concealment, the case could trigger legal action involving foreign collectors or institutions linked to the sale.

As of now, neither Sotheby’s nor the meteorite’s current owner has commented on the Nigerien government’s investigation.

Authorities in Niger say they are looking into the recent sale of a meteorite discovered in the country, saying it could be a case of “illicit international trafficking.”

Niger says it will open an investigation into the sale of a Martian meteorite discovered in the West African country in 2023.

The rock is the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth and sold for more than $5 million at an auction in New York last week.

In a statement broadcast on public television, the government said it has instructed the ministers of mines, higher education and justice to look into the case which it said “likely bears the hallmarks of illicit international trafficking.”

At 25 kilogrammes, the red, brown and gray meteorite is about 70% larger than the next largest piece of Mars found on Earth and represents nearly 7% of all Martian material currently on this planet, according to Sotheby’s auction house which led the sale.

It was discovered by a meteorite hunter in the Agadez region of Niger in November 2023.

The identity of the buyer has not been disclosed.

Source: Africa Briefing | africanews