Assimi Goïta in Moscow: “Africa Cannot Be Reduced to a Mere Source of Raw Materials”

At the third Russia-Africa Partnership Forum summit at the Kremlin, Mali’s transitional president, Assimi Goïta, called for cooperation based on sovereignty, equality among states and mutual respect. He urged Africa to become a full participant in global governance, able to set its priorities and choose its partners, rather than serve as a battleground for competition or a source of raw materials. Goïta also said Mali had changed its strategy against terrorism to rely on its own capabilities, and that the growing strength of the Malian Armed Forces was helping the state gradually reassert its authority across the country.