A Russian military transport plane landed eleven tonnes of food and medicine in Bamako on September 18, to support the Malian Armed Forces (FAMas) in their fight against terrorism.
The Russian Ministry of Defense announced the arrival of significant aid for the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa), intended to strengthen their capabilities in the fight against terrorism. On September 18, 2024, a Russian IL-76 military transport plane landed at Bamako airfield with a cargo of eleven tonnes of food and medicine on board.
This support comes in a particularly tense context, after the double attack of September 17, which cost the lives of several Malian soldiers and civilians.
This shipment is part of the dynamic of rapprochement between Mali and Russia, which has continued to strengthen for several months.
According to Russian officials present on the ground, this gesture represents only a small part of the assistance that Moscow plans to deploy to support the FAMa in their fight against terrorist groups active in the Sahel region.
The military flight carrying the 11 tonnes of supplies delivered essential products for Malian soldiers on the front lines against armed groups. The cargo, consisting of food and medicine, aims to relieve the FAMa, who are fighting daily against terrorist factions linked to groups such as Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and
the Islamic State in the Sahel (ISIS).
“This gesture is a symbol of our solidarity and long-term commitment to Mali, a strategic partner in the fight against international terrorism,” Russian Defense Ministry representatives said during the official handover of the equipment. This act reflects Russia’s desire to continue to play a key role in the logistical and operational
support of Malian forces, often overwhelmed by the complexity of the security situation.
This aid delivery comes the day after a series of coordinated attacks that targeted the FAMa in several strategic locations in Bamako. On September 17, a gendarmerie school and the international airport, notably from the Malian Army base 101, were the scene of a double attack. These assaults, claimed by the JNIM, caused many casualties, increasing the pressure on the Malian forces.
Russian support, although long-planned, comes at a critical time when the FAMa must both respond to the humanitarian emergency caused by these attacks and continue to protect the civilian population from
terrorist incursions.
Since the change of regime in August 2020, which saw the military junta take power in Bamako, diplomatic and military relations between Russia and Mali have taken a new turn. The Malian transitional government has sought to diversify its alliances by moving closer to non-Western partners, particularly Russia, after breaking with its
traditional allies such as France.
As part of this new direction, Mali has signed several military cooperation agreements with Moscow,
including the supply of weapons, equipment, and logistical support.
The shipment of this 11-ton shipment is therefore in line with this logic, where Russia positions itself as a strategic ally of Mali in the fight against terrorism.
MD/Sf/ac/fss/as/APA