The association between Russia and the Alliance of Sahel States(AES) has been growing significantly. Russia has begun to exert its influence in these countries through security and energy agreements, replacing their previous ties with the West. Recently, Mali and other West African countries have shown interest in partnering with Russia on space agreements.
Malian Minister of Economy Alousseni Sanou, in an interview with Sputnik, highlighted that the use of satellites would enable the AES to enhance its defence capabilities and protect its communication works.
“People in remote areas need to communicate and connect with markets. So, this telecommunications satellite will allow us to ensure broader coverage of our territories in terms of communications, telecommunications, and internet access,” the minister stated.
The AES ministers announced this week that they would soon start satellite communication and remote sensing projects with Russia’s help.
According to him, the three AES, which include Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, are primarily agricultural nations. This underscores the critical role of satellites in providing internet access to rural areas, which is essential for advancing regional development and enhancing connectivity in underserved regions.
Additionally, the minister emphasised the significant contribution the satellites would make in strengthening the region’s security.
“We will be able to monitor all the borders and track population movements. In terms of internal security, this will let us have information about population movements, about everything we call climate change,” Sanou added.
On the subject of exploring natural resources, the minister stated, “We have even set a timetable for the start of extraction. A team from the Russian Federation is expected to arrive in Mali at the end of October to conduct the first on-site exploration. The Russian Federation will provide us with sufficient resources to finance the development of all other sectors.”
The planned explorations, which are said to benefit Mali’s economy in the future, will include valuable resources like lithium, oil, and gas.