7/21/2025–|Last update: 14:35 (Mecca time)
The Niger government announced the opening of an official investigation into the circumstances of the sale of a meteorite discovered inside its territory, after it was shown at an auction organized by the American “Sotheby” house in New York City, and sold at a price of 4.3 million dollars.
A statement read by the Secretary -General of the government on official television stated that the Council of Ministers “reviewed the sale of a meteorite discovered in the Agadis region with an American auction, for about 5 million dollars,” expressing the authorities’ concern about “possible indicators on illegal international trade.”
The Council instructed the ministries of justice, mines and higher education to open a comprehensive investigation to uncover the circumstances of the case and determine the legal extent to which the geological sample is sold outside the country.
According to Western media reports, the scientifically known meteorite as “Inn Aha 16788”, weighing approximately 24.5 kilograms, was found in 2023 by Hao known as the meteorite hunter, before he was subject to a scientific analysis at the Astronomy Institute in the Chinese city of Shanghai.
The study confirmed that the meteorite is of a mirror origin and belongs to the rare category of “Shergotin”, which is believed to have resulted from volcanic activity on the surface of Mars.
The issue highlights the absence of effective legislation in a number of developing countries to protect their scientific and natural heritage, amid demands to enhance legal mechanisms to ensure their ownership of the geological samples discovered within their geographical borders.