Mali’s military junta receives military planes and helicopters from Russia

Jan. 20 () –

Mali’s military junta has accepted a handover of military planes and helicopters from Russia, which is increasing its influence over the country, straining relations between Bamako and its hitherto Western partners.

Mali, which has distanced itself from France, has staged a rapprochement with its new ally, including the deployment of mercenaries from the Wagner Group, owned by an oligarch close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Malian Armed Forces have confirmed in a statement that the delivery of the aircraft took place on Thursday at the Modibo Keita International Airport, an act in which the leader of the board and current transitional president, Assimi Goita, was present.

Bamako has received Sukhoi-25 type fighters, Albatros L-39 attack and surveillance aircraft and Mi-8 helicopters. “These acquisitions of air carriers will contribute to increasing the capabilities of the Armed Forces,” they highlighted in the aforementioned statement.

During the event, the Minister of Defense and Veterans, Sadio Camara, stressed that “the rise of a nation to sovereignty is not limited to speeches, but rather a long process of commitment and patriotism”, before stressing that “modernizing The Army is not a luxury, but a necessity”.

“A strong and modern Army prevails when it comes to providing security to its population and gains luster on the international scene,” he said, while warning of “new forms of insecurity and multiform wars” amid the jihadist threat about the African country.

Mali and the rest of the Sahel countries have experienced an upsurge in violence, both jihadist at the hands of groups linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, and inter-communal in nature, which has led France and the G5 Sahel countries — that the Malian junta abandoned in 2022– to ramp up its operations.