Mali has sealed a military cooperation deal with Chinese arms manufacturer Norinco on the eve of the opening of the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) taking place in Beijing from 4 to 6 September.
The head of the Malian transition, Colonel Assimi Goïta, visited the headquarters of Norinco, a world leader in the manufacture of armaments for the signing of a contract for the purchase of new military equipment for his country.
In Beijing, Colonel Goïta was received at Norinco’s headquarters, accompanied by the Minister of Defence and Veterans, Colonel Sadio Camara, and several members of his government.
The visit gave the Malian officials the opportunity to learn about the latest innovations in the field of armaments, particularly in the areas of light weapons, combat drones and advanced artillery systems.
The technology presentation was followed by a guided tour of the facilities, providing a clear picture of the company’s capabilities to support Mali’s security ambitions.
One of the highlights of the visit was the signing of an agreement between Mali and Norinco for the acquisition of new military equipment.
The contract, signed by Colonel Camara and the Director of Norinco, aims to modernise Mali’s armed forces in response to the ongoing security challenges facing the country, particularly in the northern and central regions.
It is important to recall that Norinco has already supplied armoured vehicles to Mali, such as those used during the recapture of Kidal by Malian forces in November 2023, with the support of Emirati Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicles used by Russian partners fighting alongside the Malian army.
This equipment played a crucial role in retaking the town and driving out the rebels.
This new cooperation between Mali and China through Norinco is part of a drive to strengthen strategic partnerships between Africa and China.
It comes at a time when the Malian authorities are seeking to diversify their sources of military equipment to deal with a complex security situation.
The Sino-African Cooperation Forum, which opens on Wednesday, will be an opportunity for the two countries to deepen their discussions on strategic issues, particularly security and economic development.
Strengthening relations between Mali and China, as demonstrated by this latest visit, could lead to a revival of cooperation in other key areas in addition to defence.
MD/sf/te/lb/as/APA