Mali received new military equipment from its Russian partner on Tuesday, an AFP journalist noted in Bamako on Tuesday, announcing that it had raised almost 420 million euros in the sub-regional market. Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara, one of the regime’s strongmen, hailed the “win-win partnership with the Russian Federation” in his speech at an official ceremony attended by Russian diplomats and Colonel Assimi Goïta, the Malian. interim president.
“Historical Ceremony”
The colonels, who violently seized power in this country in August 2020 amid security turmoil, have decided to part ways with their old French ally, which has been engaged militarily against the jihadists since 2013, and to vigorously resume cooperation with Russia. Russia had already delivered several combat helicopters and weapons in March. Mali has welcomed in large numbers what the junta presents as Russian trainers. Western partners, for their part, denounce the use of the junta in the service of the private Russian security company Wagner, which frowned upon actions. The junta denies and speaks of a previous partnership with the Russian army.
Russia admitted Wagner’s presence in Mali “on a commercial basis” in May. “I have to say that today’s ceremony is historic, both in the nature, the quality and the scope of what you are handing us, of which we will only exhibit a part here, the rest is of course in operation at the time of this ceremony” said Sadio Camara. “We are consolidating our reconnaissance and attack capabilities with the L39 and Sukhoi 25 fighter jets, which will be added to the Super Tucano and other aircraft already in service. As well as the Mi24P attack helicopters, which will be added to the Mi35 and Mi24 already delivered,” he added.
No information was released on the conditions for acquiring the equipment. Mali has been in turmoil since 2012. The jihadist spread, which was initially limited to the north of the country, has spread to central and southern Mali and to the neighboring countries of Burkina Faso and Niger. Bamako was also sanctioned by its West African neighbors for six months for failing to meet its election commitments. These economic and financial sanctions, which had a significant impact on the economy, were lifted in early July following the release of an election calendar for the next presidential election in 2024. On Tuesday, Mali announced that it had raised CHF 277 billion CFA (about 420 million euros) from investors in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) sub-regional market.