Mali’s government will invest FCFA316 billion (around $504 million) in the security and defense sectors next year. Under its plans, defense will get FCFA265 billion (about $422 million) and FCFA51 billion (about $82 million) for security. This is 13.9% of the country’s total budget for 2017, knowingly FCFA FCFA2,270.647 billion (around $3.88 billion).

Expenditures, in defense especially, are part of the implementation of the orientation law and military program (LOPM). Going from 2015 to 2019, this law inputs a total investment of FCFA1,230 billion ($1.9 billion) to buy equipment and recruit 10,000 soldiers as the Malian army currently has only 13,000 soldiers.

According to the authorities, implementing this law will help tackle challenges faced by the country’s defense. Among these is its conditioning to deal with major crises and new forms of insecurity paired with improving salaries, work condition, living standards of soldiers in respect to their profession’s requirements and associated responsibilities.

Moreover, in regards to military equipment, €31 million have already been spent by the Malian government to buy armoured and semi-armoured Renault Trucks Defense vehicles and 6 Super Puma helicopters. Already, six light A-29 Super attack Tucano aircrafts have been ordered to Brazilian manufacturer Embraer to replace Russian MiG-21, which are now out of use.

B.K