Mali and Russia have signed three significant cooperation agreements covering nuclear energy, trade, and security during the second day of Malian Transitional President Assimi Goïta’s official visit to Moscow.
The visit, which began on Sunday, June 22, featured a one-on-one meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on June 23.
This deepening partnership comes amid Mali’s ongoing shift away from Western alliances, and the signed agreements are set to establish an intergovernmental commission to boost bilateral trade and technology transfer, launch peaceful nuclear energy cooperation through Rosatom, and formalize a broad framework for long-term political and security collaboration.
The security component is particularly notable, following the withdrawal of the Wagner Group and the emergence of the Russian-led Africa Corps, which now supports Mali’s military with training, logistics, and intelligence.
Talks also covered Mali’s gold sector, highlighting a new refinery project in partnership with Russian company Yadran, aimed at strengthening control over gold production and export. It will continue with further discussions in industrial, technological, and educational fields.
