Malian Interim President General Assimi Goïta arrived in Moscow on Sunday for a four-day state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties with Russia. Goïta is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, where the two leaders will discuss a range of security and economic issues.
Goïta has led Mali since 2021 after staging a coup that replaced the previous military junta, which had itself taken power following a 2020 coup. Since assuming leadership, Goïta has distanced Mali from its former colonial power, France, expelling French troops who had been assisting in the country’s prolonged civil conflict that began in 2011.
Central to the discussions will be Mali’s ongoing security crisis and Moscow’s growing military role in the Sahel. Following the departure of the Wagner Group—Russia’s private paramilitary force that had operated in Mali since late 2021—Russia's Ministry of Defense deployed its newly established Africa Corps to continue supporting the Malian Armed Forces in their battle against Al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgents.
In recent months, insurgent activity has escalated, leading to frequent deadly clashes. In response, the Africa Corps has intensified operations, including airstrikes by Russian SU-24 bombers targeting militant positions in coordination with Malian ground forces.
A key factor behind the Kremlin’s decision to replace Wagner with a more formal military presence may be concerns over Ukraine’s alleged involvement in the region. Earlier this month, Russian officials claimed that following an insurgent attack, drones bearing Ukrainian markings were recovered, and mobile devices found on deceased fighters reportedly contained Ukrainian intelligence documents and contacts linked to Ukrainian operatives.
Russia has increasingly reasserted itself in Africa since 2022, echoing its Cold War-era engagement on the continent. Moscow has hosted multiple summits with African leaders and continues to solidify ties with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—a regional bloc comprising Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
Goïta’s visit reflects Mali’s ongoing pivot toward Russia as a strategic partner amid rising tensions with Western powers and intensifying regional instability.