Mali received new Russian military equipment on Tuesday 09 August 2022. The official ceremony for the reception of this equipment was held on the tarmac of Bamako airport. This gesture, the result of cooperation with Russia, will strengthen Mali’s security system and help the country to fight terrorism effectively.
The new batch of military equipment sent to Mali by Russia consists of L39 and Suhkoi 25 fighter aircraft, MI24-P attack helicopters, MI-8 helicopters and an Airbus Caza-295 tactical transport aircraft. This equipment will therefore allow the Malian army to be strengthened to make it more professional, well equipped and well trained. “With these new acquisitions, we are accelerating the growth of our forces,” said Colonel Sadio Camara, Minister of Defence and Veterans.
This aid is seen as a win-win partnershipbetween Mali and Russia.
President Assimi Goïta, during the ceremony and in the presence of Russian diplomats, did not specify the origin of the equipment received. Similarly, in his message on twitter, he did not return to the issue at all. “The batch of military equipment received this morning rightly reflects our commitment to do everything possible to raise the level of operability of our country’s defence and security forces,” wrote the president of the Malian transition on his twitter account. But the Malian Minister of Defence speaks rather of “a win-win partnership with the Russian Federation”.
As a reminder, for the past ten years, Bamako has been at war with the growing number of armed groups in the country. On Sunday 7 August, four civilians and 17 soldiers of the Malian armed forces were killed in Tessit in an attack attributed to jihadists in southern Mali. According to the government, 9 soldiers are still missing.
Charbel Ahouandjinou (stag).
