Russia and Mali have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, emphasizing collaboration in energy, infrastructure, transport, and agriculture, according to an official statement released Friday.
Mali’s President Gen. Assimi Goita hosted Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak in Bamako as part of Novak’s tour of West Africa. The meeting highlighted Russia’s intent to elevate ties with Mali to a strategic level, with Novak also underscoring the importance of counter-terrorism and economic development cooperation.
Novak leads a high-profile delegation, including six deputy ministers, department heads, and business leaders, on a mission to explore potential partnerships within the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), an alliance uniting Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Malian Prime Minister Maj. Gen. Abdoulaye Maiga hailed the visit as a significant step toward deepening bilateral ties and fostering a shared vision for economic growth. He also noted its alignment with the AES’s broader goal of resource and action integration among its member states.
The visit follows the inaugural Russia-Africa Partnership Forum, held earlier this month in Sochi, where Mali and Russia agreed to fast-track development projects and enhance trade and economic cooperation.
Mali, along with Burkina Faso and Niger, joined forces last year under the AES after withdrawing from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The alliance, formed amid strained relations with ECOWAS following a coup in Niger, aims to strengthen regional unity through shared initiatives such as a single passport system and diplomatic coordination.
The three nations, all under military rule, continue to collaborate on counter-terrorism and regional development as part of their efforts to achieve greater autonomy and stability.
