Mali/Russia : A Cosmic and Multifaceted Alliance for a Prosperous Future
The cooperation between Mali and Russia is gaining momentum, as evidenced by the recent meeting between the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Mali, Igor Gromyko, and the President of the Malian Transition, Colonel Assimi Goïta.
The Russian ambassador was received in audience by President Goïta at Koulouba, where discussions focused on strengthening the historical and multifaceted ties between the two nations. Igor Gromyko emphasized Russia’s ongoing commitment to support Mali, both militarily and economically. The meeting was also marked by a symbolic gesture of cooperation, with the presentation of a gift to the head of state.
It was a souvenir from the visit of a Russian cosmonaut to Mali, materialized by two paintings representing the Malian flag and the capital Bamako, photographed from cosmic space. «These are truly precious gifts because it is the flag of Mali that was taken into space aboard the Russian International Space Station and the cosmic photo of Bamako», clarified Igor Gromyko, highlighting the importance of these tokens of friendship.
Cooperation between the two countries extends across various domains, including military and technical, humanitarian, educational, energy, and transportation. Fruitful exchanges took place with Malian ministerial delegations visiting Moscow in October and November of the past year.
In return, President Vladimir Putin dispatched a state delegation from the Russian Federation, led by two deputy ministers, in response to the Malian missions. This Russian delegation held working sessions with members of the Malian government before being received by President Goïta. Following these exchanges, concrete projects emerged, ranging from energy supply to the assessment of the aviation, railway, and mining research sectors. Discussions are also underway regarding the dispatch of a satellite to Mali.
This dynamic of cooperation builds on the continuity of the 2nd Russia-Africa Summit, during which a Malian delegation led by the Transition President met with President Vladimir Putin. The outcomes of this visit are now evident in tangible projects, strengthening Mali-Russia relations at a multifaceted and promising level.
