Mali’s military government lifts ban on Elon Musk’s Starlink for 6 months

Mali’s military government has authorised the import and sale of Starlink satellite internet kits, after banning it for seven months over fears it could be used by armed groups in the country. This implies that citizens can now access internet service provided by Starlink’s network of low Earth orbit satellites across cities and remote locations within the country.

Mali has been ruled by a military junta since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021. The country is also battling a political, security and economic crisis and has since 2012 been ravaged by different factions affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group (ISIS).

In March, the Malian Government announced that it had become aware of the unauthorised use of the kits by non-state organisations and private individuals in the volatile north and eastern regions plagued by separatist and jihadist groups.

According to a communique released by the government in March, the Council of Ministers and the Head of State of the Republic of Mali met to discuss and adopt some actions.

According to the communique, the main items on the agenda informed by the Minister of Communication, Digital Economy, and Modernization of Administration told the Council of Ministers of an uncontrolled and illicit marketing of transmission and communication equipment called Starlink by certain economic operators and suppliers of internet access.

Due to violent terrorism in Mali for over a decade, the communique states that “it is essential that the importation, sale and use of Starlink technology respect the national legal framework set up to ensure that it is safe, secure and used under national and international standards.”

The government also announced that it will “dismantle and ban Starlink terminals throughout the country”.

Now, according to the minutes of a Wednesday cabinet meeting posted on the presidency’s website, the government is lifting the ban for a period of six months following a review with internet providers, regulators and licensed operators.

“This period will be used to put in place a regulatory framework and a platform for registering and identifying all Starlink users and equipment in our country,” the statement said. However, the government noted that despite the ban, kits that had already been sold and installed were still operating and “may be in the wrong hands”.

Overcoming Starlink’s troubles: Like Mali, like South Africa

Four weeks ago, we reported that Elon Musk’s satellite service company, Starlink held talks with the South African government to introduce the satellite service in the country. Also, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that he held talks with the founder on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly over potential investments in the country.

“I have had discussions with him and have said, Elon, you become so successful and you’re investing in a variety of countries, I want you to come home and invest here,” Ramaphosa told reporters in Pretoria. “He and I are going to have a further discussion.”

The announcement caused many followers to question the cause of the delay in launching in Africa’s largest economy and the country where Musk was born. In response to the queries, Musk said that it was “waiting for regulatory approval”.

South Africa is now one of the few countries in the world that doesn’t have an estimated in-service date. It was reported in April that Starlink is not going to work in South Africa because the company didn’t want to share ownership with locals as per the government’s requirements.

Starlink refused to comply with the country’s BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) requirements to gift 30% ownership to local historically disadvantaged people. Also, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) and the Minister of Communications have failed to issue new communications licences in about 13 years.

Icasa says it has not received any application for a licence from Starlink, nor has the company approached the Department of Communication and Digital Technologies (DCDT), according to a report.

According to TechCentral, President Ramaphosa pointed out that Starlink approached for talks. A spokesman for Starlink didn’t respond to an earlier request for comment. Analysts are hopeful that as it was with Zimbabwe, meeting with the nation’s president will lead to an eventual launch in South Africa very soon.