Russia will provide the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) with telecommunication and remote sensing satellites The deal was announced at a press conference in Moscow on Sept. 25 by officials from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, where the three countries will collaborate with Roscosmos, to develop the satellites, which they say will strengthen national security, aid in managing natural disasters, and provide high-speed internet access. The satellites will also help the AES countries battle against terrorists that operate across borders and in remote regions.
Glavkosmos Director General Ilya Tarasenko—Glavkosmos is a subsidiary of Roscosmos—emphasized that the partnership is “crucially important” for enhancing security along the countries’ borders.
