Mali's junta received several fighter planes and helicopters from Russia. Russia has become a controversial and close ally in the fight against Islamic extremism.
The aircraft was handed over in a ceremony at the airport in Bamako, attended by President Asimi Goyta of Mali and Ambassador of Russia Igor Gromyko.
Photos of the aircraft were posted on the official presidential Twitter page, and Russian state media RIA said the deliveries were Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jets, L-39 Albatross his jet and attack helicopters. . Mali's Defense Minister Sadio Camara said in a speech on Mali's state television channel his ORTM that more aircraft had been delivered.
Here, he says, we're only scratching the surface of what was delivered. Of course, the rest is operating at the moment this ceremony is taking place.
Mali has fought Muslim insurgents over the past decade since the Muslims occupied northern Mali in 2012. Although it regained control of Mali's territory after France intervened in 2013, attacks and fighting have continued since then, with 2022 already one of the deadliest years on record for the conflict. .
In a recent incident, Islamist fighters attacked a Malian military base in the northern Mali town of Tesit on Sunday, the military said in a press release, with 17 soldiers in the attack. said four civilians were killed.
Violence is also increasing in central and southern Mali. A massacre by Islamist militants in central Mopti in June killed 132 civilians. Several attacks have occurred in Mali's southern regions in recent months, with Islamists attacking Mali's main military town of Kati from just 15 kilometers away. Northern Bamako, July.
French troops are in the final stages of withdrawing from Mali after French President Emmanuel Macron announced the withdrawal of troops in his February. This follows growing tensions with Mali's military junta and concerns over Mali's cooperation with Russian mercenaries.
Mali's military junta has consistently denied allegations of working with mercenaries, saying it only works with Russian instructors.
Several governments have accused Mali of working with mercenaries from the Wagner Group, a Russian private military company. In March, Human Rights Watch released a report in which several Moura residents testified that they witnessed mercenaries committing extrajudicial killings and abuses against the Malian army over five days.
Mali also received two of his Russian-made helicopters last April and four of his helicopters and weapons last September.
