Malian Armed Forces facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Malian Armed Forces Forces Armées Maliennes
Emblème des Forces Armées Maliennes (FAMa).svg
Established	10 October 1960; 64 years ago (1960-10-10)
Parts	Malian Army Malian Air Force Malian Gendarmerie Republican Guard National Police (Sûreté Nationale)
Headquarters	Bamako
Leadership
Commander-in-chief	Assimi Goïta
Minister of Defense	Minister of Defence
Chief of General Staff	Oumar Diarra
Serving soldiers
Conscription	Compulsory military service
Active employees/soldiers	40,000 plus 4,800 paramilitary forces
Expenditures
Budget	$200-300 million ($5 million procurement) (FY03)
Percent of GDP	3% (FY01)
Industry
Suppliers from foreign countries	Bulgaria China France Russia Turkey Ukraine United States
See also
Ranks	Military ranks of Mali

The Malian Armed Forces (known in French as Forces Armées Maliennes) are the military forces of the country of Mali. They include the Army, the Air Force, and the National Guard. These forces work to keep Mali safe and secure.

In 2009, there were about 7,350 soldiers in the Army, 400 in the Air Force, and 50 in the Navy. Other groups like the Gendarmerie and local police also help with security. Some Malian soldiers get special training in countries like the United States, France, and Germany. Mali also helps with peacekeeping missions in other African countries.

History of Mali's Military
Malian Army Structure
Military Training Schools
Malian Air Force
Images for kids

History of Mali's Military

How the Malian Army Started

The Malian Armed Forces began in 1960. Many of its first soldiers were Malians who had served in the French military. Before Mali's own army was formed, French military bases in Mali were closed down. For example, the base at Kati closed in June 1961.

On October 1, 1960, the Malian army was officially created. Captain Sekou Traore, the Chief of Staff, gave a speech to mark the occasion. A few days later, people in Bamako saw their new army parade for the first time. At the start of 1961, Mali's army had 1,232 soldiers.

Changes and Challenges Over Time

In the 1960s and 1970s, Mali's army and air force mainly got their equipment and training from the Soviet Union.

In 1968, a group of young Malian officers took control of the government without violence. They formed a military council with Lieutenant Moussa Traoré as its leader. They tried to improve the economy, but faced many challenges, including a severe drought. A new constitution in 1974 aimed to bring civilian rule, but the military leaders stayed in power.

In 1991, after several days of protests, a group of 17 military officers, led by Amadou Toumani Touré, took control. They set up a temporary government and started a process that led to democratic elections.

Dealing with Conflict

A conflict known as the Tuareg rebellion began in 1990. Tuareg groups attacked government buildings. The army's response led to a larger conflict. A big reason for the conflict was that Tuareg people felt they didn't have enough chances in the army. The fighting calmed down after Alpha Konaré became president in 1992. Mali created a new self-governing area called the Kidal Region and worked to include Tuareg people more in society.

In 2012, the Malian army faced major challenges against Tuareg separatists and other rebel groups. The rebels took control of a large part of Mali. Many soldiers were captured or left the army.

Because of this, a group of soldiers took control of the government in March 2012. They removed President Amadou Toumani Touré from power.

Rebuilding the Military

After these events, French forces helped to rebuild the Malian military. Now, the army is better equipped to fight against terrorism. In 2020, about 200 Malian troops were sent to Kidal, a northern city. This was the first time the army had been in that area since 2014, due to the Tuareg separatists. Since 2020, the military has also received new equipment from Turkey.

A national guard soldier walks by demonstrators at Bamako airport.

Malian Army Structure

The Malian Army gets its soldiers through a two-year selective conscription program. This means some young people are chosen to serve in the military. Mali has six military regions. For example, the 3rd Military Region is located at Kati, and the 5th Military Region is at Timbuktu.

In 2010, French forces helped train the 62nd Motorized Infantry Regiment, based at Sévaré. This regiment was considered one of the best parts of the Malian army.

Mali is also part of a group with Algeria, Mauritania, and Niger. They created a Joint Military Staff Committee in 2010 to work together on security in the Sahara region.

The Army also manages a small navy, which has about 130 sailors and three river patrol boats.

Military Training Schools

The Malian Armed Forces have important training centers:

The Joint Military School in Koulikoro.
The Alioune Blondin Beye Peacekeeping Training School in Bamako.

The Alioune Blondin Beye school trains soldiers for peacekeeping missions. It has trained over 6,900 students since it opened. Several countries and the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) support this school.

Malian Air Force

The Mali Air Force (Armée de l'air du Mali) was started in 1961. It first received help from France, including transport planes. Later, in 1962, the Soviet Union provided more aircraft, such as biplane transports and helicopters. The Air Force used to fly MiG jets, but now it mainly uses cargo planes, light attack aircraft, and helicopters.

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

Images for kids

A T-54 tank.
A PT-76 Mod. 1952 tank.
A Type-62 light tank.
A BRDM-2 armored vehicle.
A BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle.
A BTR-152 armored personnel carrier.
A BTR-60PB armored personnel carrier.
A BTR-70 armored personnel carrier.
A VN2C armored personnel carrier.
A Fahd armored personnel carrier.
A Typhoon 4x4 MRAP vehicle.
A Paramount Marauder MRAP vehicle.
A Shrek One MRAP vehicle.
A Casspir MRAP vehicle.
An OTT Casspir MRAP vehicle.
An RG-31 Nyala MRAP vehicle.
A Panhard PVP infantry mobility vehicle.
An ACMAT Bastion infantry mobility vehicle.
An ACMAT Bastion ambulance.
A URO VAMTAC vehicle.
A Kia KLTV vehicle.
A VN-4 vehicle.
A Cougar vehicle.
An ACMAT ALTV utility vehicle.
A MasstecH T4 utility vehicle.
A Kia KM420 utility vehicle.
A Kia KM450 utility vehicle.
A Kia KM450 ambulance.
A Dongfeng EQ2500 utility vehicle.
A Toyota Land Cruiser utility vehicle.
A Toyota Land Cruiser ambulance.
A Toyota Land Cruiser Prado.
A Toyota Land Cruiser GXR.
Nissan Navara NP300 2014 (25149025714).jpg

A Nissan NP300.
A Nissan Frontera.
A Mitsubishi L200.
A Land Rover Defender.
A Land Rover Defender ambulance.
A 100mm MT-12 'Rapira' towed artillery.
A 122mm D-30 howitzer.
A 107mm Type-63 multiple rocket launcher.
A 122mm 9P122 'Grad-P' multiple rocket launcher.
A 122mm BM-21 'Grad' multiple rocket launcher.
A 60mm M57 mortar.
An 82mm 82-BM-37 mortar.
A 120mm PM-43 mortar.
A 12.7mm DShK anti-aircraft gun.
A 14.5mm ZPU-1 anti-aircraft gun.
A 14.5mm QJG-02 anti-aircraft gun.
A 23mm ZSU-23-4 'Shilka' anti-aircraft gun.
An ACMAT VLRA 4x4 truck.
An ACMAT VLRA 6x6 truck.
A Berliet GBC-180 truck.
A Renault T430 truck.
A Renault Kerax truck.
A Renault Kerax Wrecker truck.
An SNVI M120 truck.
An SNVI M230 truck.
An SNVI M350 truck.
An Iveco 330.30 ANW truck.
An Iveco Eurocargo truck.
A DAF 2800 6x4 truck.
A MAN KAT1 4x4 truck.
A MAN KAT1 6x6 truck.
A MAN TGS 35.440 truck.
A Mercedes-Benz MB1017 truck.
A Mercedes-Benz Actros truck.
A Mercedes-Benz Atego truck.
A Magirus Eckhauber truck.
A Unimog 1300 truck.
A Unimog 1300 ambulance.
An Ural-4320 truck.
A GAZ-3308 'Sadko' truck.
A Dongfeng EQ140-1C truck.
A Dongfeng EQ240 truck.
A Howo Sinotruk 4x4 truck.
A Howo Sinotruk 6x6 truck.
A Hongyan Genlyon truck.
A Caterpillar bulldozer.
An M-Boot.
A T-34/85 tank (formerly in service).
An FT-17 tank (formerly in service).
A BTR-40 armored fighting vehicle (formerly in service).
A 9P133 armored fighting vehicle (formerly in service).
A 76mm ZiS-3 towed artillery (formerly in service).
An 85mm D-44 towed artillery (formerly in service).
A 132mm BM-13 multiple rocket launcher (formerly in service).
A 14.5mm ZPU-2 anti-aircraft gun (formerly in service).
A 37mm M-1939 anti-aircraft gun (formerly in service).
An S-125 surface-to-air missile system (formerly in service).
A P-12/18 'Spoon Rest' radar (formerly in service).
A P-15 'Flat Face A' radar (formerly in service).
A UAZ-452 utility vehicle (formerly in service).
A UAZ-469 utility vehicle (formerly in service).
A GAZ-69 utility vehicle (formerly in service).
A Beijing BJ212 utility vehicle (formerly in service).
A VW Iltis utility vehicle (formerly in service).
A VW T3 utility vehicle (formerly in service).
A Land Rover Series III utility vehicle (formerly in service).
A GAZ-66 truck (formerly in service).
A ZiL-131 truck (formerly in service).
A ZiL-157 truck (formerly in service).
A MAZ-537 truck (formerly in service).
An Ural-4320 Crane truck (formerly in service).
A Mercedes-Benz SK truck (formerly in service).
A Mercedes-Benz 1113 truck (formerly in service).
A MAN Hauber truck (formerly in service).
A Magirus Eckhauber truck (formerly in service).
A Unimog Ambulance (formerly in service).
A Renault R340 truck (formerly in service).
A GSP-55 engineering vehicle (formerly in service).
A PTS engineering vehicle (formerly in service).
A Hanomag Dozer engineering vehicle (formerly in service).
A Grader engineering vehicle (formerly in service).

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