Improving safety and security in Mali:

17 Secured armouries in Sgou and Sikasso officially handed over to the authorities
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
(Sgou, 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 20142018 of the SALW Commission.

Outside the new secure armoury in Sgou

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 MAGs 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.

MAG Country Director hands over the keys

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.

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