At the Kremlin, Mali seeks access to Russian intelligence and surveillance tools

Mali’s transitional president, Assimi Goïta, asked Vladimir Putin on October 30, 2026, at the Kremlin for Russia to share intelligence and supply equipment to monitor Malian territory. Bamako also wants to establish cooperation on cybersecurity, but no agreement was announced after the meeting, held on the sidelines of the third Russia-Africa Summit. Goïta called closer ties “imperative” and praised Russia’s support, while the leaders also discussed energy, technical training and local processing of mineral resources.