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In a significant development, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have finalized an agreement with Russia to acquire telecommunications and surveillance satellites. This collaboration comes as the three West African nations, currently led by military juntas, grapple with persistent Islamist insurgencies.
Ministers from the three countries convened with officials from Russia’s aerospace agency, Roscosmos, in Bamako, Mali’s capital, to discuss the agreement. Mali’s Finance Minister, Alousséni Sanou, emphasized that the new technology would enhance border surveillance and bolster national security, while also facilitating secure communications. He noted that the satellites would aid in monitoring and responding to natural disasters such as floods and droughts, critical for a region often affected by climate challenges.
The remote-sensing satellite project is viewed as a key component of their security strategy, especially following a recent attack by Islamist militants on an airport in Bamako—far from their usual targets. This initiative is part of a broader effort; last year, the three nations formed the Alliance of Sahel States, originally aimed at military cooperation but now encompassing various aspects of governance and security.
In addition to improving surveillance capabilities, the telecom satellite is set to enhance broadcasting for television and radio across the region and provide vital internet and telephone services in remote and underserved areas of the Sahel.
As relations between these countries and their Western allies have soured, Russia is actively seeking to expand its influence in Africa, particularly in the Sahel region. Despite this military support, the security landscape remains precarious, underscoring the complexities of the ongoing conflict with jihadist groups in the area.
