Throughout the last decade the UK MOD has been involved in several military and humanitarian operations in Mali, aimed at countering terrorism, instability, and humanitarian crises.
The largest of these was the French Military’s Operation Barkhane, which led counter-insurgency activities in the Sahel region of West Africa from 2014 to 2022. It was supported by a number of countries, including the UK MOD’s Operation Newcombe, which focussed on logistical and airlift support, employing four CH-47 Chinooks and 100 support personnel to achieve this.
Based in Gao, eastern Mali, these RAF Chinooks were central to Operation Newcombe’s activities. Arriving in July 2018 from Joint Helicopter Command, they provided essential air support and transportation to troops on the ground, transporting personnel, equipment, and supplies to and from remote locations throughout the region.