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January 24, 2026, 10:16 PM EST. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are pursuing a jointly operated telecom satellite under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a regional bloc aimed at faster economic and security coordination. Officials cited by Business Insider Africa said the project would be carried out with Russian partners, including Roscosmos, to serve the AES bloc's communications needs. The satellite would provide internet connectivity, government communications, security coordination and disaster response across the three countries. The plan highlights a push for technological sovereignty, regional integration and economic self-reliance amid shifting geopolitical alignments, with Moscow as a strategic partner.