BAMAKO (CONVERSEER) – The Malian government has established a Special Operations Command (COS) to better coordinate the country’s elite military units in the fight against armed groups.
The centralised command structure, announced during a Council of Ministers meeting, consolidates four previously scattered units: a special forces battalion, an anti-terrorist force, an air intervention unit, and a reconnaissance group.
This move is part of a broader effort to modernise the armed forces, improve inter-service coordination, enhance logistics, and boost operational effectiveness.
The creation of COS comes amid a surge in violence, including deadly attacks in Boulikessi, Anoumalane, and Timbuktu in early June, which resulted in numerous casualties and the reported loss of a Russian fighter jet.
In 2024, Mali recorded approximately 1,532 terrorism-related deaths, contributing to over half of such fatalities globally, according to the Global Terrorism Index 2025.
Authorities hope COS will enhance military responsiveness, but questions remain about the resources allocated to it. No timeline or troop numbers have been disclosed, and the initiative unfolds within a new security strategy marked by Mali’s pivot from French support to closer ties with Russia.