Absent in Russia: Assimi Goita brings Putin’s message to Tiani and Traoré

At the third Russia-Africa Summit, held in Moscow on October 28 and 29, 2026, Mali was the only AES country represented by its head of state, Assimi Goïta; Burkina Faso and Niger sent ministerial delegations. On his return, Goïta traveled to Niamey and then Ouagadougou to deliver a confidential message from Moscow and discuss security, defense and development with Abdourahamane Tiani and Ibrahim Traoré. Mali signed two contracts with Russia’s Rosgeologiya to explore for gold and lithium, while the AES and Russia signed a technical assistance agreement. The meetings also reaffirmed solidarity among the Sahelian countries in the face of security challenges.