Russia has delivered to Mali a batch of military equipment consisting, among other things, of five ground-based fighter planes and a combat helicopter, as part of bilateral cooperation, the Malian government announced on Tuesday, August 9.
“We are consolidating our reconnaissance and attack capability with the L-39 and Su-25 type fighter planes, which are added to the Super Tucano and other aircraft already in use, as well as the Mi type attack helicopters. -24P, which are added to the Mi-35 and Mi-24 already delivered”, welcomed the Malian Minister of Defense, Colonel Sadio Camara, in his declaration made at the time of the official ceremony of reception of the equipment.
More than that, “mobility is also enhanced with the Mi-8 type utility helicopters, as well as the second Airbus Casa 295 type tactical transport aircraft, which thus complement the Mi-171, the first Casa and the other means existing transport systems, » he continued.
Addressing the Russian party present, the Minister indicated that « today’s ceremony is historic, both in the nature, the quality and in the volume of what you hand over to us, of which we will only present here part, the rest being of course engaged in operation at the time of this ceremony ».
Mali has already received two other grants, again from its Russian partner, in March 2022 and December 2021. Four months ago, Bamako received two Russian-made MI-35P type helicopters, radars, weapons of war , ammunition and rolling stock.
At the end of 2021, the ruling junta in Mali was equipped with four MI-171 type helicopters, weapons of war and ammunition. It is not known if there is a counterpart in favor of Moscow in front of all these endowments.
Sadio Camara hailed the « win-win partnership » that Mali has with Russia. Today’s reception ceremony recorded the presence of Russian diplomats and the president of the Malian transition, Assimi Goïta, among others.
Decidedly the divorce is well consummated between France and Mali which preferred to turn seriously to Russia to fight against terrorism on its territory.
By OMA Newsletter N° 813 of 09/08/2022
Article published under the direction of Dr. Najib Kettani
The OMA, NGO with an Intercontinental vocation
For the development of cultural exchanges
Valuing human potential
The promotion and consolidation of Africa’s development, and
Inter-African integration
