African state to buy Russian satellites
Niger has struck a deal with the Russian space company Glavkosmos to buy and deploy a communication satellite, a remote sensing satellite, and a defense and security radar. The memorandum was signed in Niamey on Friday.
This partnership, based on discussions in Mali in September, involves coordination between the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) – comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso – and Glavkosmos, a subsidiary of state corporation Roskosmos. The AES initiative, announced by Mali’s Economy and Finance Minister Alousseni Sanou, is set to include a communications satellite to improve internet access in remote areas, and an observation satellite for border security, natural resource management, and disaster response.
Niger’s Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Sidi Mohamed Raliou, stressed that the latest initiatives are aimed at achieving sovereignty in space-based communication and defense, and enabling the three AES nations to take strategic control over their own data and satellite operations.
“We have agreed with the Russian company on the acquisition of these three satellites for a period of four years,” the Nigerien minister announced on Friday, noting Mali finalized its agreement the previous day.
Production of the satellites will take four years, and during that period Glavkosmos will provide similar equipment for rent, Raliou said.
He added that local engineers, officials, and students from participating nations would receive training to manage and operate the equipment.
“There will also be a main station. We requested that the command center of these satellites should be in Africa, in one of our three countries,” Raliou added. “At the end of this project, the three countries will be able to control their communication satellites themselves and manage them as they please.”
Glavkosmos specializes in coordinating Russian space activities, and is the official provider of remote sensing data collected by Russian satellites.
In addition, Niger signed an agreement on Tuesday with Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet division, to expand high-speed internet access nationwide. Raliou stated that the deal, signed in Niamey, aims to boost connectivity and digital security.
Starlink’s satellites already cover Niger, enabling access for schools, businesses, universities, health services, and agriculture. Under the agreement, Starlink will deploy its terminals across the country, enhancing internet access in remote and underserved areas.
