The extraordinary Martian Meteorite weighs over 24.6 kilograms and is believed to be the largest confirmed piece of Mars ever discovered on Earth.
In November 2023, a rare Martian meteorite was discovered in the Agadez region of northern Niger. This exceptional extraterrestrial rock, later identified as NWA 16788, has since become the subject of international attention—not for its scientific value alone, but for the controversy surrounding its mysterious journey out of Niger and subsequent sale in the United States for a staggering $5.3 million.
The rock, weighing approximately 24.6 kilograms, is believed to be the largest known Martian meteorite ever found on Earth. Experts suggest it travelled nearly 140 million miles from the surface of Mars after being ejected by an ancient asteroid impact, eventually landing in the Sahara Desert. Due to the region’s arid conditions and sparse population, the Sahara has long been a hotspot for meteorite hunters. Many enthusiasts and scientists scour the desert areas of countries like Niger, Algeria, and Morocco, searching for these rare and valuable space rocks.
According to a scientific article from Italy, the rock was discovered by an unidentified meteorite hunter. Before it was auctioned, NWA 16788 was displayed by both a private gallery in Tuscany and the Italian Space Agency, further increasing its exposure to the public and collectors.
Despite its scientific significance, the sale has triggered outrage in Niger. The Nigerien government has expressed serious concerns regarding the legality of the rock’s export. There is no evidence to suggest that the state received any financial proceeds from the multimillion-dollar transaction, and officials have openly questioned how such a valuable national treasure could have been taken abroad without their knowledge or consent.
The meteorite was auctioned in July 2025
The meteorite was auctioned in July 2025 at Sotheby’s in New York, one of the world’s most prestigious and oldest auction houses, as part of its annual “Geek Week”—an event focused on rare scientific and natural history items. The identities of both the buyer and the seller have been kept confidential, further fueling suspicion around the legitimacy of the transaction.
In a statement, Nigerien authorities announced the launch of a formal investigation aimed at uncovering the circumstances of the meteorite’s discovery, export, and eventual sale abroad. Officials allege that the rock’s removal from Niger may constitute illicit international trafficking, stating that its export bears “all the hallmarks” of illegal activity.
International experts and cultural watchdogs have since joined in, questioning the ethical and legal dimensions of the rock’s relocation and sale. Some scholars and activists are now demanding the meteorite’s immediate repatriation. Steve Brusatte, a palaeontologist at the University of Edinburgh, criticized the sale, stating, “It would be a shame if it disappeared into the vault of an oligarch. It belongs in a museum, where it can be studied and appreciated by the public.”
“It’s time to change the way these things are handled”
Alia Baré, the daughter of Niger’s late president Ibrahim Maïnassara, also voiced her disapproval during an interview with Forbes Africa. “This is about national sovereignty. That rock is a part of our natural heritage and should never have been sold like a common object. It’s time to change the way these things are handled,” she said.
Meanwhile, Sotheby’s has rejected any allegations of wrongdoing, asserting that all necessary legal protocols were followed during the rock’s transfer and sale. In a statement to the BBC, the auction house maintained that, “The NWA 16788 was exported from Niger and transported in line with all relevant international procedures. All required documentation was in place at every step, and we complied with the best practices and the legal expectations of the countries involved.”
The outcome of the investigation in Niger may set a precedent for how developing countries handle the ownership and protection of valuable scientific and cultural resources in the future. It may also intensify ongoing global debates about cultural repatriation, natural heritage rights, and the ethics of private ownership of extraterrestrial materials.
