Mali's president urges stronger army against "persistent threats"

Bamako [Mali], February 7: The Malian army must adapt its defense strategies to security threats affecting both the country and the West African sub-region to make 2025 a year of "continuity and consolidation of military successes," Malian President Assimi Goita said on Thursday.
"The strengthening of military infrastructure, the acquisition of modern equipment, and continuous training of personnel have enabled us to maintain an operational and effective army in the face of persistent threats," Goita said while receiving New Year's greetings from the defense and security forces in capital Bamako.
He added that to sustain the momentum of military successes, the Malian armed forces should "accelerate operational planning" and "prioritize a comprehensive approach to combating security threats."
"In this spirit, we have worked with our brothers-in-arms from Burkina Faso and Niger to establish a unified force within the Confederation of Sahel States," Goita said.
Since 2012, Mali has been facing a deep and multifaceted crisis marked by separatist insurgencies, jihadist incursions and intercommunal violence, which have resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
Source: Xinhua