Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have announced a deal with Russia which will see them acquire telecoms and surveillance satellites.<\/p>\n
The three West African countries, run by military juntas, have been struggling to defeat Islamist insurgencies for years and have turned to Russia for military support.<\/p>\n
Russia denies that its mercenaries have committed atrocities against civilians<\/a> and that it is pushing propaganda and misinformation<\/a> in West Africa’s Sahel region.<\/p>\n Ministers from the three countries met officials from Russia\u2019s aerospace agency Roscosmos in Mali\u2019s capital, Bamako, on Monday, to discuss the agreement.<\/p>\n The technology will boost border surveillance and national security in all three countries, says Mali\u2019s Finance Minister, Alouss\u00e9ni Sanou, adding that it would enable secure communications.<\/p>\n Islamist insurgents roam across the three countries’ long, porous borders in the vast semi-arid Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert.<\/p>\n Sanou also said the satellites would help them to monitor and respond to floods, droughts, fires and other emergencies.<\/p>\n Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso last year formed the Alliance of Sahel States – it was originally to boost military co-operation, but has since broadened.<\/p>\n They have hailed the remote-sensing satellite project as crucial for their security strategy, just days after Islamist militants attacked an airport in Bamako – far from the areas where the jihadists normally launch their assaults.<\/p>\n Ministers say the telecoms satellite will facilitate the broadcast of television and radio signals across their three countries.<\/p>\n It is also expected to provide internet and telephone services in inaccessible and underdeveloped areas within the Sahel.<\/p>\n Russia has been seeking to expand its footprint in Africa, especially in the Sahel, since relations between these countries and their Western allies broke down.<\/p>\n Despite the use of Russian weapons and mercenaries, the security situation in the region remains dire.<\/p>\nYou may also be interested in:<\/h2>\n