Who is Colonel Assimi Goïta, at the head of the military junta in Mali?

Text by: Jeanne Richard Follow

2 min

The National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) distributed to the media a biography of the new strongman of Mali, the army colonel Assimi Goïta who presented himself this Wednesday as the president of the CNSP. The document details the career of the head of the military junta at the head of the country.

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Assimi Goïta, nicknamed Asso by his close friends, is 37 years old, is married and has three children. His three-page biography provided by the CNSP describes him as a rigorous, tenacious man, adept at challenges and able to lead.

According to a French soldier who has worked with him on several occasions, he is indeed a straight man, "  a pro who lets nothing go  ".

Son of an army officer, he followed in his father's footsteps and attended the military prytaneum of Kati, the National Defense high school.

Passed by the military school of Koulikouro, specializing in armored weapons and cavalry, he was then assigned to northern Mali from 2002: in Gao, Kidal, Menaka, Tessalit and Timbuktu, and in particular fought against the terrorists who arrived from Algeria.

In 2014, he joined the special forces and the following year, in 2015, he coordinated the special operations of the Ministry of Defense after the bombing of the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako.

In 2018, he was appointed head of the Malian Special Forces and led operations in northern and central Mali, as well as in Darfur in external operations.

His biography also lists the training he has been able to follow internationally, in France, Germany, the United States and Gabon, and the decorations he has received throughout his career.

From now on, the document concludes, “  the new challenge  ” of Colonel Assimi Goïta consists in “  leading an inclusive and peaceful transition involving all the forces of the Nation  ”.

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