The Malian government has officially launched a modernized operations center for managing emergency situations. Inaugurated on September 21, the center benefits from technical and financial support from Huawei. This new facility enables the centralization of over 74 video feeds simultaneously. It aims to enhance the exploitation of available information during natural disasters, health crises, or security situations. The center features a 360-inch screen wall, providing approximately 180 square meters of display space.
The new center is equipped with advanced tools, including radio georeferencing capabilities, an emergency call processing system, and a backup power supply ensuring continuous service. This infrastructure is part of a broader system that extends video coverage to strategic areas such as Ségou, Sikasso, and Mopti. According to the Malian Press and Advertising Agency (AMAP), these tools will facilitate the transmission of information to authorities and mobilized services during crisis situations.
The Center for Coordination and Crisis Management (CECOGEC), under the authority of the Prime Minister and daily managed by the Ministry of Security, is one of the state's coordination devices during emergencies. The center has already been mobilized during the 2024 floods and the fuel crisis. The renovation also replaces equipment dating back to 2012, as stated by the center's director, Colonel Issa Raoul Dana Dabo.
A simulation of an intervention was broadcast live on the giant screens during the inauguration to demonstrate the new operational capabilities. This modernization effort aligns with Huawei's long-standing development of surveillance solutions. In 2016, the company presented technologies combining video surveillance, communications, data, and geographic information systems to enable command centers to visualize incidents and coordinate interventions.
Huawei has developed "Safe City" solutions, integrating video surveillance, command centers, emergency communications, and data analysis. The company claims its platforms can aggregate videos from various sources and integrate them into command and dispatch systems. By 2017, Huawei's Safe City solutions were used in over 200 cities across more than 80 countries.
The Malian government's project, supported by Huawei, combines technological expertise with a national device aimed at centralizing information and facilitating its exploitation during emergencies. However, the Malian authorities have not disclosed the project's cost or the details of the equipment directly provided by Huawei.
The modernized crisis management center is expected to improve the country's response to emergency situations. With its advanced tools and capabilities, the center will enhance the coordination of interventions and the exploitation of available information. The project demonstrates the ongoing collaboration between the Malian government and international technology companies to strengthen the country's crisis management capabilities.
Key points
- The modernized operations center features a 360-inch screen wall and can centralize over 74 video feeds simultaneously.
- The center's infrastructure extends video coverage to strategic areas such as Ségou, Sikasso, and Mopti.
- Huawei's Safe City solutions have been used in over 200 cities across more than 80 countries.
