Mali receives Turkish drones amid deadly JNIM attack

Mali's military junta has received a new shipment of Turkish-made Bayraktar AKINCI combat drones. This marks the third known delivery of this heavy unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) model to the country. State television displayed three drones equipped with MAM-L laser-guided munitions and MAM-T gliding bombs produced by Roketsan. The AKINCI is a heavy UAV capable of carrying up to 1,350 kg of payload with a range exceeding 4,300 kilometers.

Amidst these military acquisitions, the Malian army faced a significant security setback in the central city of San, located in the Ségou region. At least 10 soldiers were killed during an attack on an army camp. The Al-Qaeda-affiliated group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) claimed responsibility for the assault, stating they had temporarily occupied the garrison.

The delivery of Turkish defense equipment follows the withdrawal of French forces from Mali and occurs as the ruling military junta seeks to combat an offensive by a coalition of JNIM jihadists and Tuareg rebels, who have seized significant portions of national territory.