The Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, Colonel Sadio Camara, at the head of a strong delegation, visited on February 14, 2023 the Firhoun Ag Alançar camp and the 3rd air region. The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Major General Oumar Diarra, the Chief of the Air Force Staff, Brigadier General Alou B Diarra and other military and civilian officials were of the mission.
The delegation was received by the governor of the Gao region, Brigadier General Moussa Traoré in the presence of the com-théâtre, Colonel Makan Alassane Diarra, security force officials and several officers from military region n°1. After the military honours, in camera the delegation with the staff officers of the PCIAT-EST discussed the security situation, the strategy adopted to increase the action capacities of the FAMa in the sectors of operations, etc.
The Minister handed over the TBD type drones to Air Force Base 300 before visiting the drone control and piloting center. He made a guided tour of the infrastructures under construction, in particular the parking strip, the reception and accommodation center, the hangar for fighter planes and some premises of the Air Force. He listened to certain requests from the command of base 300 to effectively meet all the expectations of the land vector in its progress.
The Minister of Defense met the troop to which he asked to hold despite all the difficulties that the country is going through. Much has been done and much remains to be done to give the Nation all its sovereignty, underlined the Minister. “I came to see the drones acquired by the Air Force and to discuss with the troops, to take note of the concerns of the men and to inform them of our determination to pursue the objectives of an Army which must fully meet the expectations of the Nation,” he said. The MDAC asked everyone to accept suffering to defend the country, because all Malians are mobilized behind the FAMa. He welcomed the cohesion through the presence of all the Defense and Security Forces. “Our commitment and determination is a hope today for all of Africa, and particularly for our children and the future of our country,” he added.
The CEMGA returned to certain deplorable behavior of certain soldiers, including the consumption of narcotics, the theft of weapons and ammunition, indiscipline, robberies, etc. He asked all the command to take this scourge head on.
For the Minister, the acquisition of these reconnaissance and combat drones will make it possible to improve and increase counter-terrorism capabilities, support operations, provide more confidence to men engaged in theaters operations.
Source: MALIAN ARMED FORCES