Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have announced a partnership with Russia to acquire telecommunications and surveillance satellites.
Governed by military juntas, the three West African nations have been struggling against Islamist insurgencies for years and have sought military support from Russia.
Russia has denied any involvement in atrocities against civilians or in spreading misinformation in the Sahel region of West Africa.
Officials from the three countries met with representatives from Russia’s aerospace agency, Roscosmos, in Mali’s capital, Bamako, on Monday to finalize the agreement.
Mali’s Finance Minister, Alousséni Sanou, stated that the technology will enhance border surveillance and national security, enabling secure communications.
Islamist militants operate across the extensive and porous borders of the three nations in the semi-arid Sahel region.
Sanou noted that the satellites will also aid in monitoring and responding to natural disasters like floods, droughts, and fires.
Last year, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso formed the Alliance of Sahel States to bolster military cooperation, which has since expanded in scope.
The remote-sensing satellite project is considered vital for their security strategy, especially after recent Islamist attacks, including one on an airport in Bamako.
Ministers highlighted that the telecommunications satellite will enhance television and radio broadcasting across the three countries and improve internet and phone services in remote and underserved areas of the Sahel.
As relations with Western allies deteriorate, Russia has been working to expand its influence in Africa, particularly in the Sahel. However, despite the deployment of Russian weapons and mercenaries, the security situation in the region remains precarious.
