Africa: Goïta and Sassou-Nguesso bet on unity in the face of insecurity

Assimi Goïta and Denis Sassou-Nguesso met in Moscow on October 27, 2026, on the sidelines of the third Russia-Africa summit. According to Mali’s presidency, their meeting lasted more than an hour and covered the continent’s diplomatic, security and geopolitical challenges, with both leaders urging stronger African solidarity in the face of threats. Goïta also stressed that Mali’s partnerships should respect state sovereignty, the choices of the Malian people and national interests. The meeting comes as violence continues in the Sahel and political differences complicate regional coordination.