Mali's prime minister calls for security innovation
Abdoulaye Maïga opened the Bamako International Defence and Security Exhibition 2026, focusing on modern threats.
Mali's Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga opened the Bamako International Defence and Security Exhibition (BAMEX) 2026 on November 9, 2026, at the Parc des Expositions. The event, running until November 13, focuses on defence and security under the theme "Innovation, intelligence and reactivity: Africa facing new global security challenges."
Maïga paid tribute to Malian security forces, the unified force of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), and partners. He highlighted current threats including terrorism, violent extremism, transnational crime, trafficking, cyber threats, and disinformation, noting these are complicated by porous borders and vast territories. The Prime Minister stressed the need for anticipation, knowledge, coordination, and adaptation over purely reactive responses.
The Prime Minister stated that innovation, intelligence, and reactivity are complementary pillars of modern security. Innovation involves leveraging technologies like artificial intelligence, drones, and satellite imagery, adapted to local realities. Intelligence requires strengthening information collection, verification, analysis, and sharing. Reactivity means rapidly converting information into decisions and actions, emphasizing cooperation as no single country can defeat terrorism alone.
Why it mattersThe Prime Minister of Mali addressed security challenges and called for innovation and cooperation to combat terrorism and transnational crime.