Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Mali in February 2023

 

Bourama Coulibaly, for BMCOUL Media

As part of a tour of the African continent, the Russian diplomat was in Bamako on 7 February 2023 to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries, which is now in full swing.

             Assimi Goita with Sergei Lavrov photo credit: presidency of Republic of Mali on twitter

On 7 February 2023, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov concluded a one-day "friendship and working visit" to Bamako, Mali, with which both sides seem to have nothing but satisfaction. As part of a tour of the African continent, that first trip by a Russian head of diplomacy to Mali, despite the long tradition of cooperation between the two countries (notably under the presidency of Modibo Keïta, from 1960 to 1968), had a particular symbolic value. Bamako and Moscow now enjoy good diplomatic cooperation.

 

For Russia, the visit provided an opportunity to step up its regional seduction operation. During that visit in Mali, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced an increasing of the number of scholarships given to Mali until 290.

 

Remember that many Malian executives studied in Russia. This will enable many Malians and Russians to get to know each other's countries better in the future.