Why is the US donating weapons to the military junta in Mali?

14 January 20231 year ago babelfish

Unexpectedly, the United States continues to deliver military equipment to Mali's military forces. Here because. The Defense Analysis article

While French and European troops have left Mali accusing the military junta of relying on Russia and the Wagner Group contractors for security and defense , unexpectedly the United States continues not only to maintain relations with Bamako but also to donate and deliver equipment to the Malian security forces.

TWO ARMORED VEHICLES AS A GIFT

In late November, the United States donated two Urovesa Vamtac 4×4 armored personnel carriers to Mali, capable of carrying a team of seven fully equipped servicemen or agents, as part of the US Counterterrorism Assistance Program (ATA), which provides anti-terrorism training and equipment to law enforcement agencies of different nations.

The US embassy in Mali said on Nov. 29 that the vehicles with five pallets of spare parts had been handed over to the National Gendarmerie Special Intervention Group (GSIGN).

The US embassy said the vehicles will be used exclusively for teams deployed in central Mali to enable them to conduct arrests and patrols more effectively in their area of operations centered on the high-density Segou, Mopti and Koulikoro regions. insurrectionary.

3.6 MILLION ASSISTANCE PACKAGE

The delivery of these two new vehicles marks the culmination of a $3.6 million assistance package that began with the delivery of 46 Hesco Base Guard Barriers for the two bases in central Mali where GSIGN is stationed. Later 6 trucks, a logistics support truck, trailers with habitable modules and field kitchen were delivered as well as spare parts to facilitate their ability to move and patrol certain areas in difficult terrain.

THE GOALS OF THE UNITED STATES IN MALI

As the South African specialized site Defenseweb recalled , the United States regularly donates vehicles and equipment to African nations engaged in fighting jihadist militias. In August, 24 South African-built OTT Puma M36 armored personnel carriers were delivered to the African Union Transitional Mission to Somalia (ATMIS) in Mogadishu (pictured above).

In September, another 8 armored cars of the same type were delivered to the Niger Army along with 43 Toyota Land Cruisers and other equipment worth $13 million.

This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/mondo/stati-uniti-mali-armi/ on Sat, 14 Jan 2023 06:30:48 +0000.