In a landmark display of burgeoning Turkey-Africa defense ties, the Bamako Expo Fair (BAMEX’25) kicked off on November 11, 2025, marking Mali's first-ever international defense and security exhibition. Held exclusively with Turkish companies occupying all exhibition stands, the four-day event at the Bamako Fair and Exhibition Center underscores a pivotal shift in the Sahel region's quest for technological sovereignty and collaborative security solutions. Organized under the high patronage of Malian Transitional President General Assimi Goïta and led by the Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), BAMEX’25 runs through November 14, drawing delegations from over 30 countries, including key players from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—as well as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Togo, Ghana, Nigeria, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Egypt, Qatar, Senegal, and India.
The opening ceremony, attended by high-level officials, set a tone of resilience and partnership. Malian Prime Minister General Abdoulaye Maiga, who presided over the ribbon-cutting alongside Defense Minister General Sadio Camara, delivered a stirring address that framed the expo as a beacon for Africa's embattled security landscape. Maiga, a seasoned military figure elevated to the premiership in August 2025 following a cabinet reshuffle, highlighted the continent's precarious position at the epicenter of "unprecedented security and geopolitical challenges that undermine its stability and hinder its development." He painted a vivid picture of evolving threats, noting that terrorism has transcended traditional battlefields: "It is no longer confined to weapons or explosives but is undergoing a profound operational transformation that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI), hidden social networks, and digital platforms to plan and execute attacks."
This assessment resonates deeply in the Sahel, where jihadist groups affiliated with al-Qaeda's Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) have intensified operations. Just days before BAMEX’25, JNIM claimed responsibility for a deadly assault on the Soumpi military base in central Mali, reporting dozens of casualties—a stark reminder of the porous borders and asymmetric warfare plaguing the region. Maiga's rhetoric echoed Mali's post-2021 coup pivot away from Western-led interventions, such as France's Operation Barkhane, toward self-reliant architectures. "Security should no longer be seen as an option but as a necessity," he declared, stressing that "success against terrorism in Africa depends on an autonomous security architecture and collaborative efforts." He vowed unyielding resistance: "We will not retreat in the face of terrorism; we will resist and eradicate it."
Maiga also seized the moment to honor Mariam Cissé, a young Malian woman reportedly murdered by terrorists for voicing support for the national armed forces, weaving personal tragedy into the broader narrative of national solidarity. Dismissing doomsayers who "hoped to see Mali collapse," he called for unity, accusing external actors like France and Algeria of covertly backing insurgents—a charge that has strained diplomatic relations since Mali's expulsion of French troops in 2022. In this context, BAMEX’25 emerges not merely as a trade fair but as "an international gathering to build a more secure, sovereign, and resilient Africa."
As the guest of honor, Turkey's role was front and center. Maiga praised Ankara's ascent as one of the world's top military equipment exporters, crediting Turkish firms for their prowess in "the most advanced and reliable defense technologies." The expo features 30 prominent Turkish exhibitors, including Baykar (renowned for its Bayraktar TB2 drones), Aselsan (electronics and radar systems), Roketsan (missile technologies), Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE) for munitions, STM for naval platforms, Kalekalip for aerospace composites, 3E for engineering solutions, Sarsilmaz for small arms, Atlas for electronics, ESSAV for security systems, SkyDagger for tactical gear, ZSR for optics, Akincilar for armored vehicles, Hedef Defence for simulation training, and Akdas Firearms for precision weapons. These displays cover unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), armored vehicles, radars, communication systems, and AI-integrated surveillance—tailored to Mali's vast, challenging borders and its neighbors' similar needs.
The event's genesis traces back to a successful 2024 demonstration at Bamako's National Police School, where Turkish tech impressed Malian officials, inspiring this scaled-up expo under the theme "Africa at the Center of Global Defense Innovation." Organized by Turkish firm Prontaron Savunma Sanayi with partner The Peak Defense, BAMEX’25 allocates its first two days to static displays and business matchmaking, followed by "demo days" on November 13-14, where live testing occurs in a secured military zone near Bamako. AES and Malian army booths complement the Turkish pavilion, fostering intra-African dialogue on joint production and technology transfer.
Turkey's Ambassador to Mali, Efe Ceylan, echoed Maiga's optimism in his remarks, hailing the expo as a testament to "the capacity and determination of the Malian people to take a leading role on the international stage." Ceylan, appointed in 2023 amid Ankara's Sahel outreach, emphasized the SSB's involvement as evidence of Turkey's "commitment to further strengthening its defense cooperation with Mali," positioning his country as a "reliable partner." He pledged continued support in Mali's anti-terrorism drive, drawing parallels to collaborations with Niger and Burkina Faso: "We are proud to deepen our defense and security cooperation with Mali, just as we have with Niger, Burkina Faso, and many other African countries." Beyond arms, Ceylan outlined ambitions to expand ties in education and trade, reflecting Turkey's holistic Africa strategy that has seen defense exports to the continent surge 200% since 2019.
This partnership builds on tangible milestones. Mali has integrated Turkish systems into its arsenal, including Baykar drones credited with neutralizing jihadist cells in northern operations. Training programs and integration projects have bolstered Malian forces, aligning with AES's collective security pact formed in 2023 to counter shared threats. For Turkey, BAMEX’25 amplifies its post-2021 Africa Offensive, where defense diplomacy has outpaced traditional powers. Unlike debt-laden Western deals, Turkish models emphasize co-financing and local manufacturing, appealing to sovereignty-focused regimes. Industry leaders like BAMEX Chairman Harun Saraç anticipate high-level attendees, including presidents and ministers, eyeing deals worth millions.
Yet, BAMEX’25 unfolds against a tense backdrop. Recent JNIM advances, including fuel blockades disrupting Bamako's supply lines, have fueled Western media narratives of an impending "Afghanization" of Mali—claims debunked by on-ground reports of bustling activity, including a massive concert by Malian artist Mama Le Succès just days prior. The African Union has urged "urgent international action," but Malian officials view the expo as proof of defiance, with social media buzzing about Turkish "arsenal" displays.
As demo days approach, BAMEX’25 signals Africa's recalibration: from aid dependency to innovation hubs. For Mali, it's a sovereignty flex; for Turkey, a gateway to a $10 billion African defense market. In Maiga's words, it's the dawn of an era where "Bamako becomes an international meeting point" for resilient futures. With live UAV flights and missile simulations slated, the expo promises not just deals, but a blueprint for countering shadows with spotlights.
