Leaders of Mali have signed a defense agreement with a Chinese firm for military equipment, training, and technology transfer. The contract was finalized on Monday in Beijing by Mali’s Defence Minister Sadio Camara and the head of the Chinese company Norinco.
Interim President Colonel Assimi Goita, who also serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, attended the signing and toured facilities featuring drones and armored vehicles.
Camara noted that, despite sanctions from the West African bloc ECOWAS, Mali received military supplies from China, with Norinco delivering equipment before payment. He expressed appreciation for this support following the end of the embargo. This collaboration comes as Mali seeks to strengthen its military capabilities amid ongoing security challenges.
Mali, facing security challenges and strained relations with Western nations since the 2020 coup, has joined Burkina Faso and Niger in creating a confederation of Sahel states, moving away from ECOWAS. During a visit to China for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Goita also met with President Xi Jinping, and both leaders upgraded their bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership. This partnership marks a significant shift in Mali’s international alliances and defense strategy.