During a ceremony on 30 September 2015, MAG Mali Country Director Nicole Ntagabo officially handed over the keys of a newly built and secured armoury to the Army General Chief of Staff, General Mahammane Toure.

A year ago MAG conducted a technical risk assessment of this site, along with other sites located across four regions in Mali (Ségou, Sikasso, Kayes and Koulikoro). This initial assessment was conducted in cooperation with the Bonn International Centre for Conversion, the National Small Arms and Light Weapons Commission and the Malian Defence and Security Forces (MDSF). This led to an intervention plan aiming to improve the security of the weapons and ammunition storage facilities by constructing or rehabilitating the facilities, providing security for equipment and providing training for storekeepers and managers.

By ratifying the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Mali committed to take ‘the necessary measures to ensure the safe and effective management, storage and security of their national stocks of small arms and light weapons.’ This is also part of the National Action Plan 2014-2018 of the SALW Commission.

During the handover ceremony, General Toure said:“We still have a long way to go to meet the requirements and expectations. Nevertheless, we trusted MAG with their technical support in the improvement of our arms and ammunition stockpile management and excellent results are being achieved. I salute MAG for their technical support and excellent results.”

Mali is part of MAG’s Arms Management and Destruction Programme for Sahel-West Africa, which provides technical expertise and interventions to the states in the region. MAG aims to create a safer environment and to reduce the risk of diversion of state-owned weapons across Sahel and West Africa.

To date, 17 armouries have been built/rehabilitated and 34 storekeepers and managers have been trained by MAG in Mali with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office. MAG is currently working towards improving the security of other sites identified during the initial assessment and recent assessments conducted at the request of the authorities.

During the ceremony General Toure acknowledged the donors of the MAG project: “On behalf of the Minister of Defence and on behalf of all MDSF, I would like to express gratitude and thanks to the German Federal Foreign Office and we hope for continuous support.”

 

Improving safety and security in Mali: 17 Secured armouries in Ségou and Sikasso officially handed over to the authorities

Outside the new secure armoury in Ségou

MAG Country Director hands over the keys

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