Mali army gets Mi-24P Hind-F combat helicopters from Russia.

The military government of Mali has taken delivery of two Mi-24P Hind-F combat helicopters from Russia, an AFP journalist saw who also saw at least five transport trucks. As shown by a tweet with a picture posted by aBamako on March 31, Defense Minister Sadio Camara late Wednesday, March 30, formally received the helicopters, radar, and other equipment brought by a Russian transport plane to a military base at Bamako airport, The Defense Post reports.

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 Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara late Wednesday, March 30, formally received the two Mi-24P Hind-F combat helicopters, radar, and other equipment brought by a Russian transport plane to a military base at Bamako airport (Picture source: Twitter account of aBamako)

The delivery adds to at least four helicopters and weapons provided by Russia under closer ties forged by rebel colonels who seized power in 2020. Russia has also supplied what are officially described as military instructors — personnel that France says are operatives from Russia’s Wagner Group security arm. Let’s recall that Mali’s rapprochement with the Kremlin has prompted French forces and their European allies to announce their exit from the country where they have been carrying on Opération Barkhane that started on 1 August 2014 against Islamist groups in Africa's Sahel region.

Colonel Camara said the equipment included a 59N6-TE radar, “capable of detecting in 3D objects flying at a speed of up to 8,000 kilometers (5,000 miles) per hour. Today, we can say with pride that our army is able to operate completely independently, without asking for help from anyone,” he said, referring to air support provided by foreign armed forces, notably France. No details have been provided about the terms under which the weapons are being supplied.

Camara went to Moscow in March with air force chief Colonel Alou Boi Diarra, in an unadvertised trip that coincided with the early days of the war in Ukraine The Defense Post reports. They discussed the supply of additional military gear, two military sources told AFP at the time. 

 Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara late Wednesday, March 30, formally received the two Mi-24P Hind-F combat helicopters, radar, and other equipment brought by a Russian transport plane to a military base at Bamako airport (Picture source: Twitter account of aBamako)