Mali and Russia have signed a series of strategic agreements aimed at strengthening their economic, scientific, and energy cooperation, including a pivotal deal on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the Kremlin announced Monday. The agreements were concluded during a five-day official visit by Mali’s transitional president, Colonel Assimi Goïta, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The two leaders also signed a protocol to establish an Intergovernmental Russia–Mali Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific, and Technical Cooperation, signaling a shift toward more structured bilateral engagement.
Speaking after the meeting, President Putin acknowledged the relatively small volume of current trade between the two nations but highlighted its upward trajectory and the potential for collaboration in sectors like mining, logistics, energy, and humanitarian projects. “Our trade numbers remain modest, but they are showing a positive trend,” Putin said. “There are promising areas for cooperation such as geological exploration, energy, and infrastructure development.”
President Goïta described the agreements as a reflection of “deepening trust and effective cooperation” between Bamako and Moscow. He emphasized that the expanding relationship with Russia is part of Mali’s broader strategy to seek reliable international partners amid growing security and development challenges. Goïta’s trip comes at a pivotal time for Mali, just weeks after Russian paramilitary group Wagner, accused of serious human rights abuses, officially exited the country. Wagner has been replaced by the state-run Africa Corps, a new Russian military initiative designed to support partner governments in Africa.
Russia’s influence in Mali and the wider Sahel has grown in recent years, especially as countries like Burkina Faso and Niger—members of the Alliance of Sahel States—have turned away from traditional Western allies and deepened their ties with Moscow. Meanwhile, Mali continues to face escalating jihadist violence. The al-Qaeda-affiliated group Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) recently launched a deadly attack on a military base, killing dozens of soldiers. Mali’s government hopes enhanced Russian support, including military cooperation, will help counter these threats.
Earlier this month, the Kremlin reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening both economic and defense ties with African nations, framing these partnerships as part of its global strategy in a multipolar world.
