The transitional president of Mali begins an official visit to Russia at invitation from the Russian president
Mali’s transitional president, General Assimi Goita, began a visit to Russia on Sunday, which will last until next Thursday, at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Malian presidency explained on its social media pages that Goita, who arrived in Moscow accompanied by a ministerial delegation and members of the National Transitional Council, will discuss with Putin cooperation ties between Bamako and Moscow, which are based on a number of areas, including security, energy, and transportation.
For its part, the Kremlin announced in a statement that Putin will hold a meeting with Goita, Monday, and that the agenda will include discussions on the continued development of Russian-Russian financial cooperation, including in the trade, economic, and investment sectors, as well as pressing issues on the regional and international agenda.
Goita’s visit to Russia comes after he laid the foundation stone last Monday for a gold refinery project being built by the Russian Yadran company.
The refinery is expected to have a processing capacity of 200 tons per year.
Through this refinery, of which Mali owns over 60%, it aims to become a regional center for refining gold extracted in West Africa.
Goita’s visit to Russia also comes more than two weeks after the Russian private Wagner Group announced the end of its mission in Mali and its replacement by the Russian Ministry of Defense’s African Corps.
In the short period since the start of its mission, the new forces have suffered significant losses in lives and equipment in battles against Azawad forces.
This is Goita’s second visit to Russia, following his visit in July 2023, when he participated in the Russia-Africa Summit and held talks with Putin on the sidelines.
