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Russia supplies Mali’s military with more warplanes and helicopters, as the former has been sending steady dispatches of war equipment to the latter ostensibly to equip the West African country to deal with Jihadists. This latest assignment was handed over to Mali’s military junta at a function attended by Russian ambassador Igor Gromyko and the head of Mali’s junta, Colonel Assimi Goita.
Russia supplies Mali’s military with more warplanes and helicopters, as the former has been sending steady dispatches of war equipment to the latter ostensibly to equip the West African country to deal with Jihadists. This latest assignment was handed over to Mali’s military junta at a function attended by Russian ambassador Igor Gromyko and the head of Mali’s junta, Colonel Assimi Goita.
It is reported that the shipment included Sukhoi Su-25 attack planes designed to support ground troops; and the Czech-designed Albatros L-39 tailored for training troops, which is also used as attack aircraft. Mi-8s, a Soviet-designed Russian transport helicopter, is also a part of the shipment. The Malian military junta claimed that the equipment was purchased and at the same time, they did not reveal the price tag of this equipment.
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Russian influence in the war-torn area grew, while the French troops’ presence has become almost nil. There are reports indicating the presence of Russian mercenaries, namely Wagner Group, in the region ostensibly to train Mali’s troops to fight against Jihadists. However, Mali’s military junta strongly refutes this claim by saying that it was something floated by the West European countries, which are trying to play a decisive role in the running of several West African countries in the Sahel region.
