To strengthen national security in the face of persistent threats from Islamist insurgencies, three West African nations ruled by military juntas have struck a significant agreement with Russia to purchase telecoms and surveillance satellites.
To formalise the deal, representatives from Russia’s aerospace agency, Roscosmos, met with ministers from Burkina Faso, Mali, and the Niger Republic on Monday in Bamako, according to the BBC.
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Technology to improve national security
According to Mali’s Finance Minister Alousséni Sanou, the technology will improve national security and border surveillance in all three nations and enable secure communications.
Additionally, he mentioned that the satellites would help monitor and respond to other calamities, such as fires, floods, and droughts.
Islamist insurgents heavily patrol the lengthy, porous borders of the three countries inside the vast, semi-arid Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert.
In light of the recent militant attack on an airport in Bamako, which is located outside of typical war zones, Sanou stated that the remote-sensing satellite project is essential to their security plan.
Ministers have stated that radio and television transmissions can now be beamed throughout Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali thanks to the telecom satellite. Additionally, phone and internet services are expected to be offered in remote and impoverished Sahelian areas.
Russia has attempted to increase its influence in Africa, especially in the Sahel region, because ties with their Western friends have soured.
The security situation is still poor despite Russia’s assistance
The security situation is still poor despite the supply of Russian weapons and mercenaries; Russia disputes claims of crimes against civilians and the spread of false information throughout the Sahel region of West Africa.
During a summit in July in Niamey, the capital of Niger, the leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger signed a historic treaty of confederation. The deal reinforces the mutual defence pact known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) formed the previous year.
The signing was a historic occasion because it was the first time that General Abdourahmane Tchiani of Niger, Captain Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso, and Colonel Assimi Goita of Mali had met together since their respective overthrows in neighbouring West African nations.
Notably, the treaty began a new age of collaboration and togetherness among the Sahel states. It was signed months after the three countries withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional grouping in January.