According to a BBC report on the 10th, a rare Martian meteorite weighing 24.7 kilograms sold at a Sotheby's auction in New York in July for $4.3 million (approximately $5.3 million including fees). This transaction sparked strong dissatisfaction in Niger, sparking a dispute over the meteorite's ownership and the legality of the transaction.

The Martian meteorite, numbered NWA16788, was discovered in the Sahara Desert in Agadez, Niger, in November 2023. It is considered one of the largest Martian meteorites ever found on Earth. University of Chicago paleontologist Sereno stated in an interview that the meteorite should be returned to Niger, arguing that international law explicitly prohibits the unauthorized removal of objects of significant cultural or natural value from their country of origin.

The Nigerien government quickly launched an investigation into the discovery and export of the meteorite, questioning its legality and suspecting illegal trading. Sotheby's, however, insisted that all procedures were legal and compliant. The dispute reportedly centers on Niger's 1997 law, which does not explicitly designate meteorites as protected cultural heritage. The Martian meteorite was originally discovered by a "meteorite hunter," then sold by the local community to an international dealer, who then transported it to a private gallery in Arezzo, Italy.