25 Sep, 2024 10:48
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, has announced plans to develop a joint satellite program in collaboration with the Russian space group Roscosmos.
The initiative was unveiled by Mali’s minister of economy and finance, Alousseni Sanou, during a meeting in Bamako on Monday with officials from fellow AES members. The project includes the deployment of a communication satellite and an Earth remote sensing satellite.
According to Sanou, the communication satellite will facilitate the transmission of television and radio signals across the three AES countries. It will also enable the establishment of a multi-service communication network, including internet and telephone services, in remote and underdeveloped areas. High-speed internet access will be provided through Vsat technology, significantly enhancing connectivity.
In July, Russian energy giant Rosatom signed memoranda with Mali on developing cooperation on nuclear energy and other key areas. Discussions also focused on solar energy projects and geological exploration, as well as plans to construct a Russian-designed, low-power nuclear power plant in Mali.
Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger formed the AES last September. They have since turned to Russia for security assistance in combating a jihadist insurgency that has gripped the region for years. All three countries are under military rule and have severed defense ties with their former colonial power, France, citing French forces’ alleged failure to resolve the violence. The US army has also been ordered to withdraw from Niger.