Mali opened its first international defense and security exposition this week in an effort to project confidence and counter growing speculation that the government in Bamako is on the verge of collapse. The event comes after two months of intensifying pressure from jihadist factions who have imposed a fuel blockade that has severely strained the country’s economy and daily life. Despite these challenges, Malian authorities are promoting the exhibition as a sign of resilience and international engagement.
BAMEX 2025: Mali’s First International Defense & Security Exhibition began on November 11th and is scheduled to conclude on Friday at the Bamako Exhibitions Park. The event is being held under the supervision of President Colonel Assimi Goïta and the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection, with the Turkish defense firm Prontaron Savunma Sanayi serving as lead organizer. The exhibition aims to showcase Mali’s partnerships with foreign defense manufacturers and highlight new capabilities at a time when questions persist about the government’s ability to maintain territorial control.
A range of military systems are on display, including Baykar drones, Roketsan loitering munitions, ASELSAN radar platforms, and Otokar’s Cobra II light armored vehicles. High-level delegations from several countries attended, among them Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, as well as officials from Iran, Libya, Sudan, and Morocco. Representatives from Burkina Faso and Niger also participated, reflecting the growing cooperation within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), the security bloc formed by the three countries.
The timing of the exhibition is notable, coming just after Russia’s Africa Corps helped break a nearly two-month-long jihadist blockade that had cut off Bamako from fuel and essential supplies. The blockade, imposed in early September by militants from Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), had threatened to paralyze the capital and had led to a sharp downturn in commerce and education. For weeks, fuel convoys were unable to reach the capital from Mali’s neighbors, prompting fears of an imminent state collapse.
In late October, Russian forces began escorting fuel shipments, allowing the first full convoy to reach Bamako on October 30th. The arrival of fuel enabled schools and universities to reopen and allowed commercial activity to resume after weeks of stagnation. The breakthrough eased the immediate crisis, though security concerns remain substantial.
In recent weeks, Western media reports have suggested that the Malian government was nearing collapse under the pressure of the blockade. However, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, speaking at BAMEX 2025 on Thursday, dismissed those claims as “far-fetched” and accused critics of misunderstanding the situation. He urged observers to “wake up from their dreams,” insisting the government remains firmly in control and committed to resisting jihadist pressure.