Mali puts a new Boeing 737 presidential plane into service
بعد فقدان سابقتها في هجوم إرهابي
Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:
The Malian government announced the entry presidential plane A new Boeing 737 has officially entered service, becoming the new official means of transport for senior state officials, after the previous presidential plane was taken out of service following severe damage during the terrorist attack that targeted the capital Bamako airport in September 2024.
The cost of the plane was 15.6 billion CFA francs.
According to media reports, the new aircraft cost approximately 15.6 billion African francs (CFA), making it one of the largest investments made by the state in the aviation sector in recent years.
The Malian government stated that the aircraft would be used for the travel of the head of state and senior officials, as part of its efforts to rebuild and modernize vital national assets and enhance the readiness of state institutions.
The previous presidential plane was severely damaged during the terrorist attack that targeted Bamako airport on September 17, 2024, making its repair impossible, which prompted the authorities to contract for a new plane to meet the official needs of the state.
In another context, Amnesty International called for an independent and transparent investigation into the killing of at least 19 Malian soldiers, following a bloody attack in the Gao region in the north of the country, amid accusations of serious violations of international humanitarian law that may amount to war crimes.
The organization stressed that the investigation must include all the circumstances surrounding the incident, while ensuring that any party found to be involved in committing violations against soldiers who are no longer fighting is held accountable.
Video clips that raise questions
Amnesty International explained that it had analyzed a number of videos and photos circulating online, which indicate that some Malian soldiers were killed after being captured or after surrendering, which is a clear violation of the rules of international humanitarian law that prohibit targeting prisoners or persons incapable of fighting.
The organization called for the preservation of all evidence related to the incident, and for a professional investigation to be conducted to identify those responsible and ensure that they do not escape punishment.
The incident occurred at a time when northern and central Mali are witnessing an escalation in armed attacks, with armed groups carrying out frequent operations against government forces, leading to a deterioration in the security situation and increasing the challenges facing the Malian army.
