Mali faces a decade-old security crisis and has been strengthening its military capability against a growing jihadist threat which is threatening to engulf the whole country.
The head of the military junta Colonel Assimi Goita, handed over the keys of seven aircraft to the Air Force on Thursday, March 16.
The official handover ceremony of the military aircraft took place at the presidential pavilion of the President Modibo Keita International Airport in Bamako.
It was attended by several personalities including Prime Minister Choguel Maïga, the head of the National Transition Council, Colonel Malick Diaw, the Minister of Defense and Veterans, Colonel Sadio Camara and the
Russian Ambassador to Mali, Igor Gromyko.
Since the second putsch in May 2021, rapprochement between Bamako and Moscow has continued.
Among the aircraft on display were four Russian-made L-39C Albatros light ground combat aircraft (reg. TZ-10C, TZ-15C, TZ-34C, TZ-36C) and three Bayraktar TB2 UAVs from the Turkish company Baykar.
These acquisitions could further contribute to the development of the Malian armed forces (FAMa).
The L-39s are generally used for attack, reconnaissance and border surveillance missions. They can also be used
to support the movement of ground troops.
The handover is in addition to the one that took place last January, during which Mali ordered several aircraft from Russia.
They include other types of aircraft such as Su-25s, a Mi-24P attack helicopter, a Mi-8 transport helicopter and a single Airbus C295 tactical transport aircraft, some of which the Malian authorities have been taking delivery of since March 2022.
The Malian air force also has Mi-24Ps, Mi-35s and Protivnik-GE/59N6-TE mobile radars. Most of this equipment
has been delivered by Russia, but the authorities have not communicated the cost.
Despite these acquisitions, the country’s security situation is still not under control, with attacks increasing, including in major cities such as Segou, which is less than 300 km from Bamako.
A police station in this city located in central Mali was attacked on the night of Tuesday, March 14, leaving two policemen wounded and causing material damage.
As a result of the insecurity, Mali now has more than 420,000 internally displaced persons, mainly children and women.
In addition, there are more than 175,000 Malian refugees living in Niger, Mauritania, and Burkina Faso.
MD/ac/fss/as/APA