Turkish defence firms showcase military weapons at fair in Mali

Turkish defence firms are displaying weaponry at an inaugural four-day military fair in Bamako, the capital of Mali.  They are the only companies taking part in the BAMEX’25 exhibition.

According to Africa News via AP, the fair opened on November 11, a day after the African Union called for urgent international action to confront deteriorating security conditions in Mali.

Since September 2025, jihadists have been responsible for repeated attacks across Mali and have also imposed a fuel blockage in regions surrounding the country’s capital, causing fuel shortages that have forced businesses and schools to close.

An export specialist at Hedef Defence, Sabri Guler, said the firm had met with clients from both private security firms and Mali’s military.

Guler explained that “the government and foreign delegations are much more interested in assault rifles and pistols, because they provide coverage and are much more important for border surveillance and protection.”

The jihadist attacks have not only caused disruptions to fuel provision, schools and businesses, but have also left many civilians displaced.

Since August 19, in a town called Farabougou in the central eastern part of Mali, Jihadist groups have seized several military positions, granting them total control. civilians have been forced to flee.

One resident who fled with their family described their experience: “My family and I had to take refuge in Dogofry [nearby village]. On Tuesday, armed groups attacked our village. They took the women and children out so they could kill all the men. While many died, others like me were able to flee. Then they burned the entire village. We weren’t able to bury the bodies.”

The town has faced pressures from the Jihadists before. It was placed under a blockade in 2020 which was only lifted after Malian clerics intervened to persuade the militants to ease off.

Mali has often relied on Turkey for equipment like drones, which have been used against armed groups and fighters linked to al-Qaeda.

Africa News Via AP, Maghrebi.org