First Mali-Russia Intergovernmental Session Holds in Bamako, Discusses Energy, Infrastructure, and Strategic Cooperation

The first session of the Mali-Russia intergovernmental commission convened on Monday in Bamako, deepening the partnership between the two nations.

The meeting, co-chaired by Russian Minister of Energy Sergei Tsivilev and Malian Minister of Economy Alousséni Sanou, covered a broad range of strategic issues, from civil nuclear energy to agriculture, infrastructure, and education.

In a statement issued by the Malian government, Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga welcomed the Russian delegation and conveyed “the full gratitude of the Malian population towards Russia,” praising a relationship that now stretches well beyond security cooperation into economic and social development.

The commission aligns with “the priorities of cooperation and the vision of our two heads of state,” officials emphasised.

Key Areas of Discussion:

Energy Cooperation: Discussions centred on civil nuclear power, hydroelectricity, and renewable energy, indicating Mali’s ambition to diversify its energy sources with Russian support.

Strategic Projects: Officials outlined collaborative ambitions in sectors such as mining, space exploration, cybersecurity, and agriculture, signalling a new phase of high-tech and industrial cooperation.

Infrastructure Development: The two sides discussed the logistics and planning necessary for sustainable transportation networks within Mali and the broader Sahel region.

Resource Mapping: An agreement was signed for the creation of a “heat map” of Mali’s mineral deposits, a tool expected to streamline exploration and development initiatives.

Educational Exchange: The commission noted a sharp increase in Malian and broader Sahelian student enrollment in Russian institutions, jumping from 32 to 290 in just two years, a trend expected to continue as part of Russia’s growing soft power strategy in the region.

Tsivilev underscored that the commission is intended to become a model for other ESA (Eurasian and Sub-Saharan African) countries, showcasing Russia’s commitment to long-term engagement in Africa.

This landmark meeting comes just one day after a Russian delegation visited Niger and signed a memorandum of cooperation with Niger in the fields of civil nuclear energy and uranium mining during an official visit to Niamey.

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