Mali – Russia: A strategic partnership for sovereign development
On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, Mali’s transitional president, General Assimi Goïta, received members of the Mali –Russia Joint Intergovernmental Commission at the Koulouba Palace. This first session, held in Bamako just one month after President Goïta’s official visit to Moscow, marks a significant step forward in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
The Russian delegation, led by Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilev, presented an update on the progress of ongoing projects. He confirmed the establishment of seven sectoral sub-commissions covering key areas such as energy, mining, health, education, scientific research, and higher education. The minister praised President Goïta’s commitment to maintaining a steady pace of implementation by proactively addressing technical challenges.
Malian Minister of Economy and Finance, Alousseni Sanou, emphasized the strategic importance of this meeting, which helped clarify priorities and define a concrete roadmap. He called for tangible results that would benefit both nations. Several major projects illustrate this momentum. In Sénou, construction of a gold refinery began on June 17, 2025, in partnership with the Russian group Yadran and a Swiss company. With an annual refining capacity of 200 tons, this project is part of an ongoing mining sector reform aimed at increasing the local value of Mali’s natural resources.
Another flagship project is the establishment of a lithium production unit in Bougoula, planned under an agreement with Uranium One (a subsidiary of Rosatom). The facility is expected to be operational by 2027. In the energy sector, a 200 MW solar power plant in Sanankoroba, led by Novawind, is nearing completion. This plant is expected to increase the country’s electricity production capacity by 10%.
President Goïta welcomed these developments and called for a cooperation model based on performance, economic sovereignty, and long-term sustainability.
