The visit to Russia of Mali’s junta leader Assimi Giota is taking place amid a sustained strategic rapprochement between Bamako and Moscow.
This second day is marked by the signing of three major agreements on nuclear energy, trade, and security.
Goita’s official visit which began the day before, Sunday, June 22, continued on Monday at the Kremlin marked by a highly anticipated one-on-one meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
This visit, scheduled to last five days, comes amid closer Bamako-Moscow ties, consolidated by cooperation deals now extended to highly sensitive areas such as nuclear energy, trade, and security.
June 23 was marked by the official meeting between the two leaders. After private discussions, the Malian and Russian delegations signed three major agreements.
The first agreement was the creation of an intergovernmental commission tasked with structuring
bilateral cooperation in the economic, scientific, technical, and commercial fields. This instrument is designed to facilitate Russian investment in Mali, but also to allow Bamako to benefit from technology transfers, more structured access to Russian markets, and prospects for cooperation in industrial processing sectors.
The second agreement, of strategic importance, concerns the peaceful use of nuclear energy. signed with the Russian public company Rosatom,
it aims to support Mali’s energy policy through long-term technical assistance. In a country where the effective electricity access rate remains below 45% according to national data, the ambition is to
develop sustainable energy solutions, ranging from human resource training to the establishment of specific infrastructure.
While the operational timetable has not been detailed, the text provides for preliminary studies, training sessions, and scientific cooperation on nuclear fuel cycle management.
The third agreement is a general framework for bilateral relations. It reaffirms the principles of mutual respect, sovereignty, non-interference, and political solidarity. This legal instrument aims to provide a lasting foundation for the strategic partnership between Mali and Russia. It includes a strengthened security component, with provisions relating to the fight against terrorism and the strengthening of national defense capabilities.
Since the departure of the Wagner Group, officially announced in May 2025, the Russian Federation has continued its support to Mali through a new military structure called Africa Corps, under the direct authority of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
This entity currently provides training to certain units, logistical support, and intelligence sharing in the central and northern regions of Mali.
The mining issue was also discussed. One week after the foundation stone was laid for the gold refinery project in Senou, a suburb of Bamako, the Malian side reaffirmed its desire to gain greater control over the national gold value chain.
This refinery, built in partnership with the Russian company Yadran, is expected to achieve a
capacity of 200 tons per year, four times the officially exported production in 2023. However, this project raises questions, particularly given the lack of LBMA certification for Russian refineries and the foreign company’s 38% stake in SOROMA-SA, the joint venture being established. For the authorities, the objective is to create an industrial hub capable of ensuring the traceability, taxation, and direct export of refined gold.
This visit, although still ongoing, is part of a dynamic undertaken by the transition authorities to diversify partnerships, following the end of the French missions (August 2022) and MINUSMA (December 2023).
In his remarks, Vladimir Putin praised what he described as long-standing and strategic cooperation, noting that more than 10,000 Malian professionals have been trained in Russia since 1960.
President Goïta expressed Mali’s desire to strengthen its ties with Russia “with respect for sovereignty and in the interests of its peoples.”
The visit will continue until Thursday, June 26 or Friday, June 27, with other meetings planned in the industrial, technological, and educational sectors.
MD/ac/Sf/fss/as/APA