Mali’s transitional president, General Assimi Goïta, has arrived in Moscow for a five-day official visit at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The visit comes ahead of the Russia–Africa Summit and is aimed at reinforcing bilateral ties between Mali and Russia. Talks are expected to focus on deepening cooperation in key areas such as security, energy, and transport.

Goïta’s trip signals Bamako’s growing alignment with Moscow, especially in the wake of deteriorating ties with traditional Western partners.