Mali has acquired Turkish-made Akinci drones to bolster its army’s capabilities in the fight against armed groups.
The drones, manufactured by Baykar, were presented to the Malian Armed Forces by transitional President General Assimi Goita during a ceremony in Bamako, TRT Afrika reported.
Mali’s Defense Minister, General Sadio Camara, emphasized that the procurement was funded through Mali’s national budget.
The drones “will help strengthen the territorial grid and neutralise threats wherever they are,” Camara stated, as quoted by TRT Afrika.
Akinci Drone
The Bayraktar Akinci is equipped with dual artificial intelligence avionics and real-time signal processing to enhance situational awareness in various combat scenarios.
The drone features electronic support systems, dual satellite communication systems, air-to-air radar, collision avoidance radar, and synthetic aperture radar.
These systems enable it to engage in both air-to-ground and air-to-air attack missions.
Constant Instability
In recent years, Turkey has strengthened its ties with several countries in the Sahel region, focusing on economic and military cooperation with Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
The drone delivery comes as Mali continues to face security challenges amid escalating tensions between various armed groups and government forces.
Threats include deadly attacks by Tuareg-led separatists and jihadist groups, as well as the presence of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, which is allied with Malian government troops.
