Malian military authorities received new warplanes and helicopters from Russia on Thursday. On this occasion, a ceremony in the presence of the Russian ambassador Igor Gromyko and the president of the Malian transition, Colonel Assimi Goïta was organized at the Modibo-Keïta international airport in Bamako, the capital.
“The desire to modernize and equip our army is not only linked to the security crisis. Of course, this has shown urgency. But above all, it responds to a fundamental need, without which any company initiated by Mali cannot claim success. Ensuring the safety of its population is not a luxury but a necessity.” declared Colonel Sadio Camara, Minister of Defence.
This is the latest in a series of parallel deliveries of Russian military gear, following others in March and August 2022. And Malian administrators did not supply details on the number of devices offered, and while they claim to have purchased the weapons, they did not provide any transaction details.
Mali’s military said that the shipment includes Sukhoi Su-25 attack jets, designed to support ground troops, and Czech-designed L-39 Albatross.
Furthermore, L-39s, although originally designed for training purposes, were also used as attack aircraft.