Sergei Lavrov, head of Russian diplomacy, in Mali for a first visit

The Russian and Malian Foreign Ministers Sergei Lavrov and Abdoulaye Diop, November 11, 2021 in Moscow.

© Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

In recent months, Moscow has strengthened its military cooperation with the Malian junta.

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This is the first time that a Russian foreign minister has visited Mali.

Sergei Lavrov, expected this Monday in Bamako for a 48-hour friendly and working visit, arrives in a particular context.

For several months, his country has been on the rise with the Malian transitional authorities and within a section of the population.

From now on, during the demonstrations organized in Bamako, the Russian flags are very visible.

This visit, described as “

” by the Malian authorities, is, according to them, “ 

”.

During his stay, the head of Russian diplomacy will have talks with his Malian counterpart Abdoulaye Diop, followed by a working session extended to the two delegations.

The host from Mali will also be received in audience by Colonel Assimi Goïta, President of the Transition.

From a Russian diplomatic source, with his various interlocutors, Lavrov will reiterate his country's invitation to Mali to participate in the next Russia-Africa Summit which should be held in July 2023 in Saint Petersburg.

In addition to economic cooperation, military cooperation between the two countries will be discussed.

Bamako receives more and more Russian military equipment, to which must be added men, instructors according to the Malian government, mercenaries from the Wagner company, according to countries like France, or the United States.

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