Mali has taken delivery of military convoys from China aimed at strengthening the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) amid a surge in jihadist attacks, particularly those involving improvised explosive devices.
The shipment, which arrived via Guinea and was transported by land to Bamako on September 3, includes 36 CS/VP14 mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicles and VN22 infantry fighting vehicles, the first batch of a larger order for 160 MRAPs.
The delivery comes as part of the transitional government’s strategy under President Assimi Goita to modernize the military and improve its ability to counter evolving security threats.
The CS/VP14 MRAPs are designed to withstand heavy explosive blasts and armor-piercing rounds, while the VN22 vehicles, equipped with advanced weaponry and modular features, provide additional combat capabilities.
Authorities say the reinforcements will help counter groups like al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM, which continues to stage deadly attacks across Mali.
In recent months, FAMa has reported repelling assaults in several towns, though jihadists claim to have inflicted losses on government forces.
The Malian government stressed that the Chinese partnership forms part of a long-term defense modernization plan, with Guinea’s ports serving as a strategic supply route due to Mali’s landlocked geography.
