Niger: Acquisition of Satellites, the country strengthens its technological and security sovereignty
On November 1, 2024, a memorandum of agreement was signed in Niamey between the State of Niger and the Russian company Glavkosmos for the acquisition and deployment of three remote sensing satellites and one radar. This project is crucial for the sovereignty and security of Niger and its partners in the Sahel States Alliance (AES), aiming to enhance communication, surveillance, and defense in the region.
Representatives from the three AES member countries, who met in September in Bamako, defined the cooperation modalities for the implementation of this program. The first satellite will be dedicated to communications, the second to remote sensing, and the third, a radar, will be used for defense and security missions. This partnership with Glavkosmos includes a four-year contract for the equipment’s production in Russia.
The project comprises three phases : signing the agreement, training of personnel and engineers, and finally, satellite manufacturing. Training local experts is a priority to ensure sovereign management of these infrastructures. Additionally, Niger and its allies have requested that the main command center for the satellites be based in Africa, ideally in one of the AES member countries, while each country will also have secondary stations, or teleports, to manage communications and satellite operations. For large countries like Niger, additional teleports may be installed for optimal coverage. Ultimately, this project will enable the three countries to control their own satellites and autonomously manage their communication networks.
In the interim, while the final satellites are being manufactured, the three countries will be able to rent similar equipment to immediately benefit from the strategic capabilities offered by satellite technology. This project represents a significant advance for the technological independence of the AES, paving the way for enhanced control over security and communication infrastructures, contributing to regional stability and sovereignty.
