By John Ikani
Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has entered a new military cooperation pact with Mali’s CDF, Maj. Gen. Oumar Diarra with a view to fostering intelligence sharing and joint training to tackle shared security challenges.
Gen. Muhoozi emphasized that the alliance reflects a strategic alignment between Uganda and Mali, with both countries committed to enhancing regional security. Signed at Uganda’s Special Forces Command (SFC) headquarters in Entebbe, the agreement signals a step toward reinforced collaboration.
“There is a need to strengthen military-to-military cooperation and enhance the existing memoranda of understanding between our countries. Under the agreement, we shall collaborate on various defence initiatives, including joint training exercises, intelligence sharing, and capacity building among other areas,” said Muhoozi.
Maj. Gen. Diarra, who previously visited the SFC headquarters and attended a recent cadet graduation at Kaweweta featuring 19 Malian officers, emphasized that stronger military ties will enable both countries to combat threats such as terrorism, insurgency, and cross-border crime more effectively.
Both leaders underscored the importance of regional partnerships for sustaining peace and stability. Mali, which has faced years of unrest and security issues, experienced a military takeover after then-President Aboubakar Keita was removed, following criticism of his administration’s handling of militant threats from groups like al-Qaeda and ISIL that have increasingly encroached on territories and executed bombings.
Since Keita’s removal amidst rising public discontent, Mali has been intensifying its search for security alliances to build resilience against these threats. This latest agreement with Uganda underscores Mali’s ongoing pursuit of solidifying military partnerships across the continent.
