A rare piece of Mars, discovered in Niger’s Sahara Desert just two years ago, has ignited an international dispute after being sold for a staggering $4.3 million at Sotheby’s in New York. The buyer and seller remain anonymous, and Niger’s government is questioning how such a valuable artifact left the country without official approval.
The meteorite, officially named NWA 16788, is the largest Martian fragment ever found on Earth, weighing 24.7kg. Less than 400 of the 50,000 known meteorites on our planet are from Mars, making it a scientific and cultural treasure.
Professor Paul Sereno of the University of Chicago, who has worked extensively in Niger, called the sale “brazen” and insists that the rock belongs in Niger. The government has launched an investigation, suspecting possible illegal trafficking, although Sotheby’s maintains that all export procedures were legal.
According to an Italian academic report, the meteorite was found on 16 November 2023 by an unnamed “meteorite hunter” in Niger’s Agadez region, sold to an international dealer, and later displayed briefly in Italy before making its way to New York. Two slices remain in Italy for scientific research.
Meteorite hunting is common in the Sahara due to its ideal preservation conditions. However, heritage experts argue that these extraterrestrial rocks are more than commodities—they are part of a nation’s identity. Countries like Morocco have faced similar challenges, losing countless space rocks to private collectors and foreign museums.
Heritage advocates like Prof. Sereno and Moroccan scientist Prof. Hasnaa Chennaoui stress the need for stricter laws to prevent cultural loss. Niger, which passed heritage protection laws in 1997, has no specific legislation covering meteorites, making it vulnerable to such incidents.
Whether this Martian relic will ever return to Niger remains uncertain. But for now, its journey from a remote desert to an elite New York auction has left deep questions about cultural ownership, international law, and the ethics of space rock trade.