Mali takes delivery of new batch of Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones

Mali received Thursday January 4 a fresh shipment of Turkish combat drones to be used in the fight against terrorism and the supervision of the country’s airspace.

The drones, unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), were delivered during a ceremony attended by the interim leader of Mali, Col. Assimi Goita and the Turkish ambassador to the country Efe Ceylan.

The shipment is made of two dozens of TB2 drones and is the second batch after a first one was delivered in March 2023.

The TB2 can fly for more than 20 hours at 27,000 feet, can carry a load of up to 120 kilograms (265 pounds), and weighs only 650 kilograms.

The Malian transitional leader argued that the drones will help improve the airstrike capacity of Malian armed forces and the tools for intelligence of the Army.

“These acquisitions are in addition to those already received, including transport and combat equipment,” he added. The West African country slid into chaos in 2013. The central government lost vast swathes of the territory, including the key region of Kidal until November 2023.

Goita declared in November 2023 the liberation of Kidal from Touareg rebels believed back by France. The Army engaged in several months of fierce fighting with rebels with the help of private security company Wagner.