Malian Armed Forces

The Malian armed forces were initially formed by Malian conscript and volunteer veterans of the French Armed Forces. In the months preceding the formation of the Malian armed forces, the French Armed Forces withdrew from their bases in Mali.

A national guard soldier walks by demonstrators at Bamako airport.

Among the last bases to be closed were those at Kati, on 8 June 1961, Tessalit (base aérienne secondaire), on 8 July 1961, Gao (base aérienne 163 de Gao), on 2 August 1961, and Air Base 162 at Bamako (base aérienne 162 de Bamako), on 5 September 1961.[1]

"On 1 October 1960, the Malian army was created and solemnly installed through a speech by Chief of Staff Captain Sekou Traore. On 12 October the same year, the population of Bamako attended for the first time an army parade under the command of Captain Tiemoko Konate. Organizationally, says Sega Sissoko, is the only battalion of Ségou and includes units scattered across the territory. A memo from the Chief of Staff ordered a realignment of the battalion. Following on, a command and services detachment in Bamako was created, and the engineer company in Ségou, the first Saharan motorized company of Gao, the Saharan Motor Company of Kidal, the Arouane nomad group, nomadic group of Timetrine (in the commune of Timtaghène), the 1st Reconnaissance Company and Nioro 2nd Reconnaissance Company Tessalit. As of 16 January 1961, Mali's army totaled 1232 men."[1][3]

In the sixties and seventies, Mali's army and air force relied primarily on the Soviet Union for materiel and training.[8]

On 19 November 1968, a group of young Malian officers staged a bloodless coup and set up a 14-member military junta, with Lieutenant Moussa Traoré as president. The military leaders attempted to pursue economic reforms, but for several years faced debilitating internal political struggles and the disastrous Sahelian drought. A new constitution, approved in 1974, created a one-party state and was designed to move Mali toward civilian rule. The military leaders remained in power.[10]

Single-party presidential and legislative elections were held in June 1979, and General Moussa Traoré received 99% of the votes. His efforts at consolidating the single-party government were challenged in 1980 by student-led anti-government demonstrations, which were brutally put down, and by three coup attempts. The Traore government ruled throughout the 1970s and 1980s. On 26 March 1991, after four days of intense anti-government rioting, a group of 17 military officers, led by subsequent President Amadou Toumani Touré, arrested President Traoré and suspended the constitution. They formed a civilian-heavy provisional ruling body, and initiated a process that led to democratic elections.[10]

The Tuareg rebellion began in 1990 when Tuareg separatists attacked government buildings around Gao. The armed forces' reprisals led to a full-blown rebellion in which the absence of opportunities for Tuareg in the army was a major complaint. The conflict died down after Alpha Konaré formed a new government and made reparations in 1992. Also, Mali created a new self-governing region, the Kidal Region, and provided for greater Tuareg integration into Malian society. In 1994, Tuareg, reputed to have been trained and armed by Libya, attacked Gao, which again led to major Malian Army reprisals and to the creation of the Ghanda Koi Songhai militia to combat the Tuareg. Mali effectively fell into civil war.

As of June 2008, service commanders were Colonel Boubacar Togola (Armée de Terre), Colonel Waly Sissoko (Armée de l'Air), Lieutenant-Colonel Daouda Sogoba (Garde Nationale) et du Colonel Adama Dembélé (Gendarmerie Nationale).[11]

The Malian army largely collapsed during the war against Tuareg separatists and Islamist rebels in early 2012. In a span of less than fourth months at the start of 2012, the Malian army was defeated by the rebels who seized more than 60% of the former Malian territory, taking all camps and position of the army, capturing and killing hundreds of Malian soldiers, while hundred others deserted or defected.[12]

Following the rebel advance, a group of soldiers from the Kati camp near Bamako staged a coup on 22 March 2012 which overthrew Malian president Amadou Toumani Touré. After the junta seized power, they successfully repelled a counter coup on 30 April by loyalists from the red berets elite units.[13]

The Malian military was rebuilt by French forces, and is now capable of conducting counter terrorism operations. In February 2020, the army stated that up to 200 Malian troops arrived in Kidal, a Northern city. This was the first time the army was deployed in this area because of the Tuareg Separatists rebels that chased out the army since 2014.[14]

Since the 2020 coup, the military received equipment from Turkish forces.[6]

Manpower is provided by two-year selective conscription. Mali apparently has six military regions, according to Jane's World Armies. The 1st Military Region and 13th Combined Arms Regiment may be in Gao.[15] The 3rd Military Region appears to be at Kati.[16] The 4th Military Region is at Kayes[17] and the 5th Military Region is at Timbuktu.[18]

The 512 Regiment was reported within the 5th Military Region in 2004.[19] In 2010 Agence France-Presse reported that French training would be given to the 62nd Motorized Infantry Regiment of the 6th Military Region, based at Sévaré.[20] The same story said that the regiment consisted of three Rapid Intervention Companies (CIR) and AFP said it was "considered the elite...of the Malian army."[20]

Mali is one of four Saharan states which created a Joint Military Staff Committee in 2010, to be based at Tamanrasset in southern Algeria. Algeria, Mauritania, Niger, and Mali were to take part.[21]

The 134e Escadron de Reconnaissance (reconnaissance squadron) was to be trained to operate the French ACMAT Bastion APC by the EUTM Mali.[22]

The Army controls the small navy (approx. 130 sailors and 3 river patrol boats).

Sources: Mali Actu Archived 27 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine 17 February 2012: Liste des généraux du Mali sous ATT : À quoi servaient-ils ? Quel sera leur sort ? Archived 21 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine and Le Monde-Duniya du 12 avril 2012: Les Generaux du MALI

The goal of this list is to comprehensively catalogue Mali's current and past inventory of (armoured fighting) vehicles and heavy weaponry.[23] Historically a major recipient of Soviet military aid, frequent arms deliveries in the 1970s and 1980s turned Mali into one of the strongest militaries in western Africa, operating advanced equipment such as dedicated tank destroyers, S-125 SAM systems and MiG-21bis jet fighters.[23]

Equipment currently in service with the Malian Army

Name	Image	Origin	In service	Notes
Tanks
T-54		Soviet Union	N/A	(Rarely used operationally).[23]
PT-76 Mod. 1952			N/A	(Rarely used operationally).[23]
Type-62		China	N/A	(In operational condition but not in active use).[23]
Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs)
BRDM-2		Soviet Union	N/A	[23]
Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs)
BMP-1		Soviet Union	N/A	(In operational condition but not in active use).[23]
Armoured Personnel Carriers
BTR-152		Soviet Union	N/A	[23]
BTR-60PB			N/A	(At least one operates without a turret).[23]
BTR-70			N/A	[23]
VN2C		China	N/A	[23]
Fahd		Egypt	N/A	[23]
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicles
Typhoon 4x4		United Arab Emirates	N/A	[23]
Gladiator			N/A	[23]
Typhoon 6x6			N/A	(Armed with a HMG).[23]
Tornado 6x6			N/A	[23]
Shrek One			N/A	[23]
OTT PUMA M36-15		South Africa	N/A	(Armed with a 12.7mm DShK).[23]
Paramount Maurader			N/A	[23]
Casspir			N/A	[23]
OTT Casspir			N/A	(Armed with a 12.7mm DShK).[23]
RG-31 Nyala			N/A	(Used by the Gendarmerie).[23]
VP11		China	N/A	[23]
Infantry Mobility Vehicles (IMVs)
Panhard PVP		France	N/A	(Armed with a 12.7mm M2 HMG).[23]
ACMAT Bastion			N/A	[23]
ACMAT Bastion			N/A	(Ambulance).[23]
URO VAMTAC		Spain	N/A	[23]
Stark Motors Storm		Qatar	N/A	[23]
Kia KLTV		South Korea	N/A	(Armed with a 7.62mm PKM LMG).[23]
VN-4		China	N/A	[23]
Cougar		United Arab Emirates	N/A	[23]
Python			N/A	(Not yet seen).[23]
All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)
Lynx CS/VP11		China	N/A	[23]
Utility Vehicles
ACMAT ALTV		France	N/A	[23]
ACMAT ALTV Ambulance			N/A	[23]
MasstecH T4			N/A	[23]
Kia KM420		South Korea	N/A	[23]
Kia KM450			N/A	[23]
Kia KM450 Ambulance			N/A	[23]
Dongfeng EQ2500		China	N/A	[23]
Toyota Land Cruiser		Japan	N/A	[23]
Toyota Land Cruiser Ambulance			N/A	[23]
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado			N/A	[23]
Toyota Land Cruiser GXR			N/A	[23]
Nissan NP300			N/A	[23]
Nissan Frontera			N/A	[23]
Mitsubishi L200			N/A	[23]
Land Rover Defender		United Kingdom	N/A	[23]
Land Rover Defender			N/A	(Ambulance).[23]
Towed Artillery
100mm MT-12 'Rapira'		Soviet Union	N/A	[23]
122mm D-30			N/A	[23]
Multiple Rocket Launchers (MRLs)
107mm Type-63		China	N/A	[23]
122mm 9P122 'Grad-P'		Soviet Union	N/A	[23]
122mm BM-21 'Grad'			N/A	[23]
Mortars
60mm M57		Yugoslavia	N/A	[23]
82mm 82-BM-37		Soviet Union	N/A	[23]
120mm PM-43			N/A	[23]
(Self-propelled) Anti-Aircraft Guns
12.7mm DShK		Soviet Union	N/A	[23]
14.5mm ZPU-1			N/A	[23]
14.5mm QJG-02		China	N/A	[23]
23mm ZSU-23-4 'Shilka'		Soviet Union	N/A	(Rarely used operationally).[23]
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
Hawker Q800X		France	N/A	[23]
Trucks
ACMAT VLRA 4x4		France	N/A	[23]
ACMAT VLRA 6x6			N/A	[23]
Berliet GBC-180			N/A	[23]
Renault T430			N/A	[23]
Renault Kerax			N/A	[23]
Renault Kerax Wrecker			N/A	[23]
SNVI M120		Algeria	N/A	[23]
SNVI M230			N/A	[23]
SNVI M350			N/A	[23]
Iveco 330.30 ANW		Italy	N/A	[23]
Iveco Eurocargo			N/A	[23]
DAF 2800 6x4		Netherlands	N/A	[23]
MAN KAT1 4x4		Germany	N/A	[23]
MAN KAT1 6x6			N/A	[23]
MAN TGS 35.440			N/A	[23]
Mercedes-Benz MB1017			N/A	[23]
Mercedes-Benz Actros			N/A	[23]
Mercedes-Benz Atego			N/A	[23]
Magirus Eckhauber			N/A	(3. Generation).[23]
Unimog 1300			N/A	[23]
Unimog 1300			N/A	(Ambulance).[23]
Ural-4320		Russia	N/A	[23]
GAZ-3308 'Sadko'			N/A	[23]
Dongfeng EQ1092F		China	N/A	[23]
Dongfeng EQ140-1C			N/A	[23]
Dongfeng EQ240			N/A	[23]
FAW CA1122J			N/A	[23]
Howo Sinotruk 4x4			N/A	[23]
Howo Sinotruk 6x6			N/A	[23]
Hongyan Genlyon			N/A	[23]
Jiefang J5			N/A	[23]
Sachman SX2190			N/A	[23]
Engineering Vehicles
Caterpillar bulldozer		United States	N/A	[23]
M-Boot		Germany	N/A	[23]

Equipment formerly in service

Equipment formerly in service

Name	Image	Origin	In Stock	Notes
Tanks
T-34/85		Soviet Union	N/A	[23]
FT-17		France	N/A	[23]
Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs)
BTR-40		Soviet Union	N/A	[23]
9P133			N/A	(Some repurposed as fire-support vehicles armed with ZU-23s).[23]
Towed Artillery
76mm ZiS-3		Soviet Union	N/A	[23]
85mm D-44			N/A	[23]
Multiple Rocket Launchers (MRLs)
132mm BM-13		Soviet Union	N/A	[23]
Anti-Aircraft Guns
14.5mm ZPU-2		Soviet Union	N/A	[23]
37mm M-1939			N/A	[23]
Surface-To-Air Missile Systems (SAMs)
S-125		Soviet Union	N/A	[23]
Radars
P-12/18 'Spoon Rest'		Soviet Union	N/A	[23]
P-15 'Flat Face A'			N/A	[23]
SNR-125 'Low Blow'			N/A	(for S-125), (Not yet seen).[23]
Utility Vehicles
UAZ-452		Soviet Union	N/A	[23]
UAZ-469			N/A	[23]
GAZ-69			N/A	[23]
Beijing BJ212		China	N/A	[23]
VW Iltis		Germany	N/A	[23]
VW T3			N/A	[23]
Land Rover Series III		United Kingdom	N/A	[23]
Trucks
GAZ-66		Soviet Union	N/A
ZiL-131			N/A	[23]
ZiL-157			N/A	[23]
MAZ-537			N/A	[23]
Ural-4320 Crane		Russia	N/A	[23]
Mercedes-Benz SK		Germany	N/A	[23]
Mercedes-Benz 1113			N/A	(Double Cabin).[23]
MAN Hauber			N/A	[23]
Magirus Eckhauber			N/A	[23]
Unimog Ambulance			N/A	(Ambulance).[23]
Renault R340		France	N/A	[23]
Unknown Truck		N/A	N/A	[23]
Engineering Vehicles
GSP-55		Soviet Union	N/A	[23]
PTS			N/A	[23]
Hanomag Dozer		Germany	N/A	[23]
Grader		United States	N/A	[23]
Unknown Loader		N/A	N/A	[23]
Unknown Roller		N/A	N/A	[23]

The Malian armed forces have at least two significant training establishments:

• Joint Military School at Koulikoro
• Alioune Blondin Beye Peacekeeping Training School at Bamako (fr:École de maintien de la paix Alioune Blondin Beye de Bamako)

The Alioune Bloundin Beye school is the tactical-level component of a trio of three ECOWAS peacekeeping training schools: the Alioune Bloundin Beye school (EMPABB), the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra, Ghana (operational level), and the Nigerian National Defence College (strategic level).[24] The school has trained over 6900 students since its opening and is currently supported financially and technically by seven countries and as well as the ECOWAS.[25]

Malian soldiers stand MiG 21bis fighters at Bamako–Sénou International

The Mali Air Force (Armée de l'air du Mali) was founded in 1961 with French supplied military aid. This included MH.1521 Broussard utility monoplane followed by two C-47 transports until Soviet aid starting in 1962 with four Antonov AN-2 Colt biplane transports and four Mi-4 light helicopters.[26] It used to operate MiG jets but is currently equipped with cargo aircraft, light attack aircraft and helicopters.

 This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook (2023 ed.). CIA. (Archived 2003 edition)

• 'Insurgency, disarmament, and insecurity in Northern Mali 1990–2004,' in Nicolas Florquin and Eric G. Berman (eds.) Armed and Aimless Armed Groups, Guns, and Human Security in the ECOWAS Region, Small Arms Survey, ISBN 2-8288-0063-6, May 2005
• Mahamadou Nimaga, 'Mali', in Alan Bryden, Boubacar N'Diaye, 'Security Sector Governance in Francophone West Africa: Realities and Opportunities,' DCAF/Lit Verlag, 2011.
• Jared Rudacille, "Security Sector Reform's Utility in Conflict Prevention," Monograph written as part of a degree requirement at the US School of Advanced Military Studies, November 2013. (Includes case study of US aid to security sector reform in Mali, 2004–2012.)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military of Mali.

• Soldiers training during the Northern Mali conflict
• http://www.jamana.org/lesechos/articles/2005/septembre/ec1_actu15_0905.html – two new Malian generals, total eight
• https://web.archive.org/web/20101224193445/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/12/09BAMAKO815.html – "Closing ceremony of JCET training for Malian army"