Mali is seeking greater autonomy in the defense and security sectors, the Chief of Staff of the Western African nation’s air force told RT, naming Russia as a partner that can assist the jihadism-plagued state in achieving this goal.

Brigadier General Alou Boi Diarra made the statement in an exclusive interview on Thursday, responding to a question about how Mali’s military relations with Russia differ from those it had with its previous security ally, France.

“Russia is one of the world leaders in the field of defense technologies and produces high-quality equipment that is perfectly adapted not only to the geographical and climatic conditions of Mali, but also to combat conditions,” he stated.

He hailed Moscow-Bamako relations as a “holistic” cooperation that covers all aspects and principles of equipment use and maintenance, as well as the infrastructure needed for its deployment.

“When Mali purchases weapons from Russia, Moscow also provides instructors who show our military not only how to use and maintain equipment in technical terms but also how to use it most effectively in combat conditions,” he explained.

The country has been embroiled in a jihadist insurgency since 2012 that has claimed thousands of lives. A decade-long French military mission failed to quell the violence, causing it to spill over to neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger. All three former French colonies, under military rule, have severed defense ties with Paris and, to combat terrorism, formed the Alliance of Sahel States. The alliance has sought increased security cooperation with Russia to combat the jihadist insurgency.

Late last month, Tuareg rebels operating in Mali killed scores of Bamako’s soldiers and Russian Wagner Group contractors in an ambush near the Algerian border. Ukrainian officials had claimed the militants carried out the “successful” operation using information from Kiev’s military intelligence service.

The Malian military government and its ally in Niger responded by breaking off diplomatic relations with Ukraine, accusing it of supporting aggression and of international terrorism. Kiev denies the accusations, claiming that the African states had made “hasty” decisions without evidence of Ukraine’s involvement in the attack.

During his interview with RT on Thursday, the chief of the Malian Air Force also claimed that Ukraine had “openly declared its participation in these hostilities in front of the whole world.”

“Who needs other evidence than the statements by military officials who claimed responsibility for the attacks?” General Diarra asked.

According to him, the armed groups have for long been using logistical and financial support from “outside” in their attempt to destabilize Bamako and its alliance partners in Ouagadougou and Niamey.

“But now the armies of the countries are prepared to counter these threats,” the official warned. Diarra was in Moscow to attend the Army 2024 International Military-Technical Forum.

On the sidelines of the three-day event, which began on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry met with military chiefs from Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, and the Central African Republic, and discussed potential areas of security cooperation.