Press Statement
No: BAM2022-007
Bamako – November 29, 2022 – Deputy Chief of Mission Richard Nicholson presented to the Special Intervention Group of the National Gendarmerie (GSIGN), two (2) UROVESA VAMTAC Armored Personnel Carriers and five (5) pallets of multiple spare parts offered by the U.S. Antiterrorism Assistance Program (ATA), which provides U.S. government antiterrorism training and equipment to law enforcement agencies throughout the world.
The VAMTAC is a Spanish manufactured four-wheel drive armored military vehicle capable of carrying seven personnel. The vehicles offered Tuesday will be used solely for deployed teams in central Mali to allow them to conduct arrests and patrols more effectively in their area of operation.
The delivery of these two new vehicles marks the culmination of a $3.6 million assistance package that began with:
- The delivery of 46 Hesco barriers for the two central Mali locations where the GSIGN is stationed. These barriers provide force protection to unsecured bases that could become easy targets.
- The delivery of three Quad cab trucks and three single cab trucks and spare parts to facilitate their ability to move about and patrol certain areas in difficult terrain.
- The delivery of one Vehicle/Support Packages to include a heavy-duty Logistics Truck, a Kitchen Trailer, a Shower/Restroom Trailer, a 30-person tent with netting and Spare Parts.
In his remarks to Director General of the National Gendarmerie Colonel-Major Sambou Minkoro Diakite Tuesday, DCM Nicholson highlighted the longstanding partnership in the field of security and our full commitment since 2016 to GSIGN’s formation, development, and continued success. “We believe this capacity building enables Malians to lead their own development. Since 2016, the United States Embassy Bamako has supported the GSIGN to effectively prevent or respond to terrorist attacks in Bamako, and to establish a counterterrorism operational presence in the regions of Segou, Mopti, and Koulikoro. The GSIGN presence in these areas provides rule of law and denies safe haven to terrorists operating in central Mali,” he underscored.
He also highlighted the excellent partnership to the U.S. Embassy Bamako in providing support to Embassy Security Office. He expressed ongoing commitment of the U.S. Embassy to assist the transition government of Mali in addressing the security crisis in Mali.
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