Mali’s Junta Leader Visits Putin in Moscow to Deepen Ties After ECOWAS Exit.

By Caroline Ameh

Mali’s military ruler, General Assimi Goita, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday at the Kremlin, pledging to deepen bilateral ties as the West African nation seeks stronger support from Moscow in its fight against jihadist insurgents.

The high-level meeting comes as Mali continues to pivot away from traditional Western allies, especially France, and further into Russia’s strategic orbit. General Goita, who seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, said his visit to Russia would help reinforce cooperation in key sectors including defence, transport, and the economy.
“I am convinced this visit will be an occasion to reinforce our relations,” Goita told Putin during their meeting at the Kremlin.
President Putin, welcoming the Malian leader, said it was a “great pleasure” to host him in Moscow, and highlighted promising areas for future collaboration, especially in “natural resources, energy, and logistics.”

Goita arrived in Moscow on Sunday for what officials described as a days-long working visit. His trip comes on the heels of Mali’s formal withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) earlier this year, alongside Burkina Faso and Niger — a decision that has raised concerns over regional instability.

Accompanying the talks were top Russian and Malian officials, including Russia’s Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev, Deputy Defence Minister Yunnus-bek Yevkurov, and the foreign ministers of both countries. On the Malian side, Defence Minister Sadio Camara held separate talks with his Russian counterpart, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov.

“The priority task of our partnership is to achieve practical results in enhancing security and sovereignty. This approach is the key to any success and victory,” Belousov said after the talks.

Russia has been steadily expanding its influence across Africa, notably through the deployment of Kremlin-backed mercenaries in several conflict zones. In Mali, fighters from the now-defunct Wagner Group have played a prominent role in government counter-insurgency operations since 2021. Their departure earlier this year has given way to a successor unit known as the “Africa Corps.”

Goita’s visit underscores Mali’s growing reliance on Moscow as a military and economic partner, amid deteriorating relations with the West and escalating jihadist violence within its borders.