Facing a persistent deterioration of its security situation, the Malian government announced on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the creation of a Special Operations Command (COS).
This new centralized body aims to improve the coordination of elite units engaged in the fight against active armed groups within the country.
The bill, presented to the Council of Ministers by the Minister of Defense, ratifies a significant structural reorganization of the Malian army. Previously operating independently, four special units—a special forces battalion, a counter-terrorism force, an air intervention unit, and a reconnaissance group—will now be placed under a single authority. The COS, envisioned as a dedicated center for planning and conducting operations, will complete this unified system.
This reform is part of an ongoing modernization process of the armed forces, initiated in recent months to enhance joint coordination, logistics, and the effectiveness of field operations.
The establishment of the COS comes at a particularly tense period. Early June saw several deadly attacks across northern and central Mali. In Boulikessi, an offensive attributed to the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM) reportedly claimed the lives of several Malian soldiers. Between June 11 and 13, a Russian-Malian convoy was targeted near Anoumalane in the Kidal region, resulting in significant losses and the presumed destruction of a Russian fighter jet. Another attack in Timbuktu also caused numerous casualties.
According to the Global Terrorism Index 2025, over 50 percent of terrorism-related deaths worldwide were recorded in the Sahel in 2024, with Mali alone accounting for approximately 1,532 deaths—a worrying increase.
Malian authorities are banking on the COS to bolster their responsiveness and effectiveness on the ground. However, uncertainties persist regarding the human and material resources that will be allocated to this new command. Since the departure of French forces and strengthened ties with Russia, Mali’s security strategy has increasingly focused on reinforced sovereignty, a stance often criticized for its lack of transparency.
Neither a deployment date nor specific details on the COS’s strength have yet been provided. The effectiveness of this new structure in stemming the dynamics of violence threatening the stability of the entire Sahel region remains to be seen.
MD/te/Sf/fss/abj/APA