Nowadays, many security challenges are faced by Mali in the Sahel region. In order to tackle such a situation, Moscow’s military equipment is one of the ideal solutions. According to the Chief of Staff of Mali’s Air Force, Brigadier General Alou Boi Diarra, Russia is a big player in helping Mali. With the help of the Russian military, this region again became self-reliant in its defense and security sectors. 

This shift toward Russia represents a significant change from Mali’s previous security partnership with France. The region is suffering from many complexities these days such as ongoing jihadism, Mali is finding new ways to strengthen its security and also improve the security measures. The Air Force chief’s comments highlight the growing importance of Russia as a strategic partner for Mali, suggesting that the country is looking for more effective support and equipment to deal with its complex security problems.

According to him, “Russia is one of the world leaders in the field of defense technologies and produces high-quality equipment that is perfectly adapted not only to the geographical and climatic conditions of Mali but also to combat conditions.”

Moscow and Bamako present a thorough and effective partnership with unique cooperation. It covers all the necessary aspects. All the details of military equipment usage and maintenance are also available. When Mali purchases weapons from Russia, the support goes beyond just the sale. Moscow also gives experienced instructors that offer different types of important training. These trainers teach the Malian military about how to operate the equipment properly. Also, they provide unique lessons about the technical details of operating and maintaining the equipment

This approach ensures that the equipment is not only delivered but also put to its best use, showing a deep commitment from Russia to assist Mali in its defense efforts. Overall, this partnership reflects a strong, all-encompassing support system aimed at enhancing Mali’s military capabilities and ensuring the effective use of the equipment provided.

Since 2012, the country has been dealing with a great type of jihadist violence. This situation leads to many deaths and ongoing suffering. The French military tried their best to stop this violence but they did not succeed in it. 

The situation also got worse with the passage of time as the conflict spread to neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger. All of these nations, all former French colonies, are now under military rule. They have decided to cut all military ties with France. 

They have come together to form the Alliance of Sahel States, aiming to better fight terrorism. To strengthen their efforts, they are seeking increased security cooperation with Russia.

Recently, Tuareg rebels in Mali carried out a deadly ambush near the Algerian border, killing several Bamako soldiers and Russian Wagner Group contractors. Ukrainian officials believe the rebels managed this attack with help from Kyiv’s military intelligence, suggesting that this support might have played a key role in their success.

However, the Malian military government and its allies acted too fast. They cut ties with Ukraine by saying that this nation supported terrorism and caused many troubles in Mali. However, Ukraine denied all of these claims. According to Ukraine, African countries made a hasty decision. They don’t have any solid proof against Ukraine’s involvement in this attack. General Diarra, speaking in an interview with RT, suggested that Ukraine’s own public statements about their role in the conflict are sufficient to prove their guilt. However, it is not good to rely on these statements without any solid proof. 

It seems that the decision to sever relations was made based on limited information and may have been influenced by political motivations rather than a thorough investigation. For a fair judgment, it’s important to have clear and convincing evidence rather than just relying on public declarations.

Armed groups have been getting outside help to make trouble in Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey. Bou, now they are ready to take revenge and fight back. 

At the Army 2024 event in Moscow, which started on Monday, Russian defense officials met with military leaders from Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and the Central African Republic to talk about how they can work together to improve security.