ISLAMABAD: Mali’s military rulers took delivery on Thursday of more aircraft from Russia, which is now its main political and military ally, along with drones from Turkiye, as per a correspondent representing AFP.
General Alou Boi Diarra, Mali’s air force chief, stated that he had received around 20 aircraft and 12 drones at a ceremony attended by the head of the country’s military regime, Colonel Assimi Goita, as well as diplomats from Russia and Turkiye.
Eyewitnesses counted 5 planes and 4 drones on Bamako airport’s tarmac.
It was the latest in a number of such Russian deliveries of armament, following others in January and in March and August of 2022.
Mali receives Czech-designed Albatros L-39 jets from Russia
The delivery on Thursday included more Czech-designed Albatros L-39s jets, like those delivered in January. Initially, they were designed for training purposes, but have also been used as attack aircraft.
The drones were reconnaissance and surveillance mission-capable Turkish Bayraktar-TB2s. Their footage can help make artillery and air strikes more accurate, explained Colonel Sadio Camara, who is Mali’s defense minister.
The country has been fighting a jihadist insurgency since 2012 along with a political and humanitarian crisis.
After the army junta currently in power staged their 2020 coup, ties with ex-colonial power France quickly fell apart, and Russia stepped in to fill the void.
Multiple sources claim that the junta started bringing in paramilitaries from Russia’s Wagner group in late 2021, provoking criticism from several countries.
The regime has responded by saying it has now begun gaining momentum against the jihadists.
