Mali–Russia relations#Diplomatic missions

File:Dmitry Medvedev with Bréhima Coulibaly.jpg to President Dmitry Medvedev, 16 January 2009]]

The Soviet Union recognised the independence of Mali on 7 July 1960, and diplomatic relations between the two states were established on 14 October 1960.{{cite book|last=Ginsburgs|first=George|author2=Slusser, Robert M.|title=A calendar of Soviet treaties, 1958-1973|publisher=Brill Publishers|year=1981|isbn=90-286-0609-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3X4nnE7eKjEC|pages=845|access-date=2009-07-17}} Following the collapse of the Mali Federation, and due to French support for Senegal, Modibo Keïta, the first President of Mali, sought closer ties with the Soviet Union. In 1961 the two countries signed trade and cultural pacts,{{cite news |title=Russia and Mali Sign Trade, Cultural Pacts |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/575711032.html?dids=575711032:575711032&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&date=Mar+19%2C+1961&author=&pub=Chicago+Daily+Tribune&desc=Russia+and+Mali+Sign+Trade%2C+Cultural+Pacts&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021144507/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/575711032.html?dids=575711032:575711032&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&date=Mar+19,+1961&author=&pub=Chicago+Daily+Tribune&desc=Russia+and+Mali+Sign+Trade,+Cultural+Pacts&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=March 19, 1961 |access-date=2009-07-17 }} and the Soviet Union granted Mali loans and other aid,{{cite book|last=Bingen|first=R. James|author2=Robinson, David |author3=Staatz, John M. |others=Clark, Andrew F.|title=Democracy and development in Mali|publisher=MSU Press|year=2000|pages=255–256|chapter=From Military Dictatorship to Democracy|isbn=0-87013-560-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8jsYooBH9JkC|access-date=2009-07-17}} which included the acquisition of two Ilyushin Il-18 passenger aircraft for Air Mali.{{cite book|last=Guttery|first=Ben R.|title=Encyclopedia of African airlines|publisher=Ben Guttery|year=1998|pages=120|chapter=Mali|isbn=0-7864-0495-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KBmGpaD36cMC|access-date=2009-07-17}}{{cite news |title=Russia Signs Pact to Sell Planes to Mali |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/575705102.html?dids=575705102:575705102&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&date=Mar+21%2C+1961&author=&pub=Chicago+Daily+Tribune&desc=Russia+Signs+Pact+to+Sell+Planes+to+Mali&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021144447/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/575705102.html?dids=575705102:575705102&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&date=Mar+21,+1961&author=&pub=Chicago+Daily+Tribune&desc=Russia+Signs+Pact+to+Sell+Planes+to+Mali&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=March 21, 1961 |access-date=2009-07-17 }} Under the cultural agreement Russia sent circus performers, sports coaches and a soccer team to Mali.{{cite news |title=Reds Aid Mali |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gSMRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3OIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2358,2846574&dq=mali+russia|work=Associated Press in Eugene Register Guard |date=February 18, 1962 |access-date=2009-07-17 }}

When Keïta was overthrown by Moussa Traoré by a coup d'état in 1968, Traoré improved relations with France and other Western countries, but Mali remained dependent on the Soviet Union for the arming and training of its military. Approximately 50 Soviet military advisors provided armour, artillery and parachute training to Mali's military, and trained all of Mali's pilots.{{cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/documents/organization/67519.pdf |title=Soviet Military Policy in the Third World |date=21 October 1976 |publisher=Department of State |pages=28 |access-date=2009-07-20 }} The Soviets also improved the Malian Air Force base in Mopti, and occasionally used Malian airfields to stage supply flights for groups it supported in Angola.

On 16 January 1992, Mali recognised the Russian Federation as the successor state of the Soviet Union, after the latter's dissolution.{{cite web |date=16 February 2009 |script-title=ru:Российско-малийские отношения |url=http://www.mid.ru/ns-rafr.nsf/89414576079db559432569d8002421fc/e7962e08a074a8b1c3256fb000326213?OpenDocument |access-date=2009-07-17 |publisher=Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs |language=ru}}

{{Multiple image

| image1 = Assimi Goïta with Russian president Vladimir Putin July 2023.jpg

| caption1 = Assimi Goïta with Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, Russia, 29 July 2023

| image2 = Malick Diaw with Vyacheslav Volodin (2023-03-19).jpg

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| total_width = 220

| caption2 = Malick Diaw with Putin's close associate Vyacheslav Volodin in Moscow, Russia, 19 March 2023

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In 2020, a coup d'état in Mali deposed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and replaced his government with a junta led by Colonel Assimi Goïta. Russian involvement in the coup has been speculated.{{Cite web |date=2020-08-26 |title=Was Russia behind the coup in Mali? |url=https://www.dw.com/en/was-russia-behind-the-coup-in-mali/a-54705282 |access-date=2020-09-16 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last=Obaji |first=Philip Jr. |date=2020-08-21 |title=Russia Trained the Militants Who Just Seized Power in Mali |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/russia-trained-the-mali-coup-leaders |work=The Daily Beast |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Obaji |first=Philip Jr. |date=2021-06-02 |title=How These Coup Plotters Staged a False Flag Pro-Russia March |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/pro-russia-demonstration-was-false-flag-operation-staged-by-mali-coup-plotters |work=The Daily Beast |language=en}} The Malian government has increasingly allied with Russia since Goïta assumed direct control in 2021.{{Cite news |last=O'Grady |first=Siobhán |last2=Chason |first2=Rachel |date=2024-08-05 |title=Mali cuts ties with Ukraine, claiming Kyiv's involvement in rebel attacks |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/08/05/ukraine-mali-wagner-mercenaries-russia/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |work=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite web |title=Mali cuts diplomatic ties with Ukraine over Wagner attack controversy |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/5/mali-breaks-off-diplomatic-ties-with-ukraine |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}

Mercenaries from the Russian private military company Wagner Group began arriving in Mali in late 2021,{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Jason |last2=Akinwotu |first2=Emmanuel |date=2022-05-04 |title=Russian mercenaries linked to civilian massacres in Mali |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/04/russian-mercenaries-wagner-group-linked-to-civilian-massacres-in-mali |access-date=2024-08-06 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} followed by Russian military equipment donations and advisors throughout 2022 and 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-14 |title=Mali Junta Leader Discusses Security, Economy with Putin |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/06/14/mali-junta-leader-discusses-security-economy-with-putin-a81506 |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en |agency=Agence France-Presse}}{{Cite web |date=2022-01-07 |title=Russian military advisors arrive in Mali after French troop reduction |url=https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20220107-russian-military-advisors-arrive-in-mali-after-french-troop-reduction |access-date=2022-01-07 |website=France 24 |language=en}} In November 2022, Minister of Economy and Finance {{ill|Alousséni Sanou|fi}} said Russia was committed to send 60,000 tonnes of petroleum products, 30,000 tonnes of fertiliser and 25,000 tonnes of wheat, for a total worth of around $100 million.{{cite web |date=3 November 2022 |title=Russia to send $100m in food and fuel to Mali, minister says |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/3/malian-minister-says-russia-will-ship-food-and-fuel-to-mali-in-coming-weeks |publisher=Al Jazeera}}

In February 2023, Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov met Malian military junta leaders to ensure his country's support to Mali against the Islamist insurgency in the Sahel.{{cite web |date=8 February 2023 |title=Russia vows to boost military cooperation with Mali |url=https://www.dw.com/en/russia-vows-to-boost-military-cooperation-with-mali/a-64639926 |publisher=DW}} Goïta was one of the few heads of state present at the 2023 Russia–Africa Summit.

According to the United States Department of State, the Malian junta is suspected of routing foreign military purchases to Wagner, which were "intended for use in Ukraine" during the ongoing invasion.{{Cite news |last=Monteau |first=Flore |date=2023-07-28 |title=Russia-Africa summit: Goïta and Traoré show support for Putin |url=https://www.theafricareport.com/317101/russia-africa-summit-assimi-goita-and-ibrahim-traore-show-support-for-vladimir-putin/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728160620/https://www.theafricareport.com/317101/russia-africa-summit-assimi-goita-and-ibrahim-traore-show-support-for-vladimir-putin/ |archive-date=2023-07-28 |access-date=2024-08-06 |work=The Africa Report}}{{Cite news |last=Le Cam |first=Morgane |date=2023-05-27 |title=US says Russia's Wagner tried to use Mali to arm itself in Ukraine |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/united-states/article/2023/05/27/us-says-russia-s-wagner-tried-to-use-mali-to-arm-itself-in-ukraine_6028203_133.html |access-date=2024-08-06 |work=Le Monde |language=en}}

On September 27, 2024, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of Mali Abdoulaye Diop signed a statement on non-deployment of weapons in space.https://afrinz.ru/en/2024/09/russian-and-malian-foreign-ministers-sign-statement-on-non-deployment-of-weapons-in-space/

File:New Aero L-39s of the Malian Air Force at Bamako Air Base, 9 Aug 2022.png jets donated to Mali by Russia, Bamako airport, 9 August 2022.]]

In 2003, meetings were held by Alexander Makarenko, Director of the Africa Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with N. L. Traoré, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Mali.{{cite web |title=On Russian-Malian Inter-MFA Consultations |url=http://www.ln.mid.ru/Bl.nsf/arh/14CA9CD219412BFF43256D1E003DEC59?OpenDocument |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927084654/http://www.ln.mid.ru/Bl.nsf/arh/14CA9CD219412BFF43256D1E003DEC59?OpenDocument |archive-date=2011-09-27 |access-date=2009-07-17 |publisher=Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs}} In 2005 Anatoly Safonov, the Special Presidential Representative for International Cooperation in the Fight Against Terrorism and Cross-Border Organized Crime, met from 25 January 2005 through 28 January 2005 in Bamako with his Malian counterpart.{{cite web |title=Russian-Mali Consultations on the Combating of International Terrorism |url=http://www.ghana.mid.ru/nfr/nfr339.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006212308/http://www.ghana.mid.ru/nfr/nfr339.html |archive-date=2011-10-06 |access-date=2009-07-17 |publisher=Embassy of Russia in Ghana}}

File:Moscow, Novokuznetskaya 11, Embassy of Mali.jpg

Russia has an embassy in Bamako, and Mali has an embassy in Moscow. The current Russian ambassador to Mali is {{Ill|Igor Gromyko|ru|Громыко, Игорь Анатольевич}}, since 17 June 2019.{{Cite web |date=17 June 2019 |title=Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 17.06.2019 № 281 «О Чрезвычайном и Полномочном После Российской Федерации в Республике Мали» |trans-title=Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of 17.06.2019 No. 281 "On the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Mali" |url=http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001201906170027 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618131911/http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001201906170027 |archive-date=18 June 2019 |access-date=6 August 2024 |website=Официальное опубликование правовых актов |language=ru}} The current Malian ambassador to Russia is Seydou Kamissoko, who was nominated on 24 May 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-03 |title=Mise en route de trois nouveaux ambassadeurs – Koulouba |url=https://koulouba.ml/mise-en-route-de-trois-nouveaux-ambassadeurs/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |language=fr-FR}}

• Foreign relations of Mali
• Foreign relations of Russia

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{in lang|ru}} [http://www.mid.ru/ns-rafr.nsf/strana?OpenView&Start=1&Count=30&Expand=29#29 Documents on the Mali–Russia relationship from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

{{Foreign relations of Russia|Africa}}

{{Foreign relations of Mali}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mali-Russia relations}}

Category:Africa–Russia relations

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Category:Bilateral relations of Russia