Mali’s state-linked transport company, SMTL-SA, has signed a contract with Russia’s Kamaz to acquire trucks and develop vehicle-maintenance infrastructure in Bamako.
The agreement, worth more than $51.5 million, was signed in the capital on October 7 in the presence of Mali’s economy and finance minister and transport and infrastructure minister, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.
The contract forms part of an intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Mali and is intended to strengthen the country’s transport and logistics capacity, particularly for the movement of food and industrial goods.
Under the deal, SMTL-SA will procure Kamaz vehicles while the Russian manufacturer will provide long-term technical support, spare parts and training for Malian technicians. The package also includes technology transfer and the gradual development of local skills. Kamaz has also signaled longer-term interest in supporting the creation of a service center in Bamako and, potentially, a vehicle-assembly facility in Mali.
Officials framed the partnership as a step towards reducing reliance on external maintenance and logistics structures while building a foundation for Mali’s automotive and industrial sectors. The agreement is expected to improve the availability of trucks for domestic distribution and cross-border freight.
According to SMTL-SA Director-General Col Djibrila Harouna, the arrangement covered technical monitoring, spare-parts supply, technician training and skills transfer.
