Physical Security and Stockpile Management in Mali

In a central neighborhood of Bamako, the Anti-Crime Brigade (Brigade Anti-Criminalité or BAC) is located in a colonial building next to an elementary school. The unit staffs about 130 officers with a guard post in service 24/7.

Commissary Seydou Sissoko, who is the chief of the BAC said, “BAC is a strategic unit of the Malian Defense and Security Forces (MDSF), located in a central and overcrowded neighborhood of Bamako. This has always challenged the safety of the unit’s armament, as weapons and ammunitions were stored in precarious ways before MAG’s (Mines Advisory Group) interventions.”

Before MAG’s involvement, all the weapons and ammunition were stored in the guardhouse in an unsafe manner. The main weapons storage area was improvised in a closet that also stored other objects for everyday use. Moreover, as the closet was not big enough, additional weapons and ammunition were lying in any available empty corner, accessible to anyone at any time.

MAG, with financial support from PM/WRA, provided the BAC with a containerized armory and equipped it with metal racks, a key box, a secure cage for the storage of small-caliber ammunition, and a fire extinguisher.

“The quality of my job has drastically changed. On the one hand, securing our armament allows us to better accomplish our mission—that is protecting our people from criminality—by preventing that weapons fall in the wrong hands; on the other, the better organization of our equipment streamlines our workflow,” said Commissary Sissoko.

Commissary Sissoko further commented, “We are now able to monitor and control weapons and ammunitions flow. Our country is experiencing a very unstable security situation, fueled by the precarious conditions in which we used to work; but we are now advancing our strategy and realize how pivotal accountability and safety in our job is.”

MAG’s objective is to improve security and stability in Mali and in the Sahel. Since MAG began PSSM operations in Mali in 2015, it has secured more than 21,000 weapons, built three storehouses for explosives, and trained 169 MDSF personnel in SA/LW management. MDSF authorities highly appreciate MAG’s contributions, and have asked for continued support to strengthen security and reduce the risk of diversion of state-owned SA/LW to illicit markets.

Commissary Sissoko stands next to the newly installed metal gun rack.

Photo courtesy of MAG.