Army: Fifth batch of National Youth Service Corps sworn in by Colonel Asimi Gota

On Thursday, August 29, 2024, a flag-off ceremony was held at the Place des Armées of the 34th Military Engineering Regiment in Bamako for 796 young people who have completed their compulsory military service and entered the national and community civil service as part of the National Youth Service (SNJ).

The fifth batch, which consists of 122 women and various professionals such as teacher-researchers, court auditors, chief registrars, student civil servants and computer technicians, marks a new stage in the civic training of young people in Mali.

The ceremony was held under the chairmanship of Transitional President and Head of State Colonel Assimi Gota and attended by Chairman of the National Transitional Council Colonel Malik Dio, Head of Government Jogel Kokara Maga, Chiefs of Staff and Chiefs of Services, as well as families of the new recruits.

Young recruits undergo an intensive six-month training at the Baffou Training Centre, acquiring skills in the Rules of Service of the Army (RSA), Shooting Instruction (IST), Military Sports and Topography. This training is designed to develop a taste for effort, a spirit of comradeship, and the physical, intellectual and moral skills necessary to serve the country faithfully.

Colonel Assimi Gota stressed that this group embodies the civic commitment of Malian youth to serve their country. He expressed gratitude to the Malian people for their support to the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) and praised the dedication of the heads of the program. The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces encouraged the recruits to show rigor and dedication and confirmed that mandatory military training is essential to prepare the people to defend the motherland in any situation.

The ceremony was marked by the performance of propaganda songs and a military parade, symbolizing the integration of young people into Mali’s national defense strategy and the mobilizable citizen reserve force.

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