Mali and Russia have signed a series of agreements aimed at expanding mutual trade and strengthening economic ties.
Among them is a pledge for greater cooperation on nuclear energy, according to details released by the Kremlin.
The announcement of the deals came during a visit by Mali’s junta leader Col Assimi Goïta to Moscow, which included two hours’ of talks with President Vladimir Putin, Russian state media report.
Goïta has boosted relations with Russia since seizing power in 2021, while reducing ties with former colonial power France. This reflects a broader regional trend, with neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger also pivoting towards Russia after the overthrow of civilian leaders.
Speaking on Monday, Putin said that while trade ties with Mali were “modest” there was an upward trend and future areas of cooperation would be in “geological exploration, energy, logistics and the humanitarian field”.
Mali and Russia have previously discussed the construction of a Russian-designed nuclear power plant as a strategic energy project for Mali.
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