Mali has received several L-39 and Su-25 fighter jets from Russia, as well as Mi-24P and Mi-8 combat helicopters and CASA S-29 tactical transport aircraft, writes Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. In turn, the French agency AFP informs the transfer of five aircraft and a helicopter. On Tuesday, August 9, the military equipment was delivered to the interim President of Mali, Assimi Goita, during a ceremony attended by the Russian Ambassador to Mali, Igor Gromyko, at the international airport of the country’s capital, Bamako. .

Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara, who was also present at the ceremony, said the partnership with Russia is mutually beneficial. In March, Moscow already transferred several combat helicopters and other types of weapons to Mali.

PMC Wagner in Mali

Since the military coup in Mali in May 2021, the highly unstable West African country has been ruled by a military junta with close ties to Russia and the services of the Wagner PMC, whose fighters are called “military advisers” in the country.

At the same time, the work of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) is complicated by a number of circumstances related to tensions between Mali and its international partners and the activation of extremist groups in the country.

The German Bundeswehr is currently mobilizing over 1,000 of its soldiers on this mission. For its part, France, following the junta’s demands, announced in February the complete withdrawal of its peacekeepers from Mali.