Malian authorities on Wednesday unveiled a new government aircraft intended for the official travels of the country’s top state officials.
The aircraft, a modernised Boeing 737, was acquired for CFAF 15.6 billion (approximately €23.8 million) to replace the former presidential plane, which became unusable following an attack on Bamako’s military airport in September 2024.
Mali’s Minister of State in charge of Economy and Finance inspected the new government aircraft acquired by Bamako for CFAF 15.6 billion. He was accompanied by the Secretary-General of the Presidency and the coordinator of the Presidential Air Group. State broadcaster ORTM aired footage of the aircraft’s cabin and cockpit, highlighting its upgraded capabilities.
According to technical officials, the Boeing 737 belongs to the same aircraft family as the previous government plane but has undergone extensive modernization. Its avionics systems have been fully refurbished, several cockpit components replaced, and the cabin redesigned to meet the requirements of official missions. The aircraft is equipped with a kitchen, a rest area with a bedroom, and facilities designed to ensure the comfort of government delegations.
The new aircraft has a range of 11,500 kilometers, allowing it to fly for nearly 14 hours nonstop. It can reach an average speed of 950 km/h and a cruising altitude of 41,000 feet, or around 12,300 meters, enabling it to operate intercontinental flights without stopovers.
The former government aircraft was severely damaged during the September 17, 2024 attack on Bamako’s military airport, for which the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated group claimed responsibility. During the assault, attackers reportedly set fire to one of the aircraft’s engines.
Technical assessments conducted after the attack concluded that the plane had suffered significant structural and mechanical damage, making repairs economically unviable. Its grounding forced Malian authorities to rely on alternative arrangements for official travel.
The finance minister said insurance compensation for the previous aircraft had already provided CFAF 6 billion to the public treasury. Negotiations are also underway for the sale of spare parts and accessories from the aircraft, whose value is estimated at between CFAF 3 billion and CFAF 4 billion, in an effort to reduce the net cost of the new acquisition.
MD/te/Sf/lb/as/APA