“A video posted on March 27 shows the arrival of another convoy of Chinese armoured vehicles in Bamako. The footage shows a Dongfeng Mengshi all-terrain vehicle as well as the CS/VN9, an infantry fighting vehicle manufactured by Norinco.”

“Other videos posted on Facebook show the arrival of Russian-made material. A video published on March 30 shows BMP-3 armoured infantry fighting vehicles, while another video, shared on March 29, shows TIGR and VPK-Oural armoured vehicles.”

“Analyst Julia Stanyard suggests the Sabetta may carry both Chinese and Russian military equipment for Mali: 'It is indeed plausible that a Russian shipment could be transporting Chinese military equipment.'”

“The armoured vehicles may be intended for the Malian army, which has obtained a number of these vehicles in the past three years, according to Chassillan. However, they could also be deployed by the Africa Corps, which 'has, in the past, used Chinese military vehicles [...] diverted from previous shipments of vehicles provided directly to the Malian military from China,' says Stanyard.”

“Wamaps says that the Russian military vehicles carried by the Sabetta, like the BMP-3, might be used to 'secure Bamako and certain Russian Africa Corps bases or perhaps to protect sites linked to Russian interests in the country’s mining sector.'”