African nations and Russia's space agency announced a partnership to deploy satellites aimed at enhancing security, managing natural disasters, and improving internet access in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger collectively declared their withdrawal from the 15-nation ECOWAS, alleging that it undermines their sovereignty by acting as an instrument for foreign interests.

Mahamadou Hamidou/Reuters The alliance formed last year by three junta-led West African nations — Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger — plan to launch a new passport. Mali’s military head of state Assimi Goita said on Sunday that the passport for the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) members is aimed at “harmonizing

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger will soon introduce new biometric passports issued by their new alliance, after their withdrawal the West African Ecowas bloc earlier this year. Mali's leader said Sunday that the three countries would soon be putting into circulation a biometric passport of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger will be launching new biometric passports as part of their withdrawal from ECOWAS.

Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have agreed with Russia to acquire telecommunications and surveillance satellites. The satellite technology would enhance border surveillance and national security across all three nations,

BAMAKO: Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger will introduce new biometric passports as part of their withdrawal from a West African bloc in favour of a new Sahel alliance after military leaders seized power i

The partnership between Russia’s space agency and the governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger deepens these countries’ turn toward the Kremlin in their effort to fight off Islamist insurgencies.