Mali and Russia have signed a sweeping set of bilateral agreements, including a contentious deal on the “peaceful use of nuclear energy,” igniting a heated debate over the West African nation’s strategic direction and capacity to manage such high-stakes technology.
The agreements were concluded on Monday, June 23, during Malian interim president Assimi Goïta’s five-day official visit to Moscow ,
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Goïta in what both sides hailed as a milestone for strengthening economic, trade, and scientific ties.
A Kremlin statement confirmed the signing of multiple accords, most notably the nuclear cooperation pact.
For political analyst Eurico Gonçalves, the deal marks a strategic win for Russia’s growing influence in the Sahel, offering potential benefits that span military, economic, and environmental spheres.
“To make the actions of jihadist groups unfeasible,” said Gonçalves, “the alliance of Sahel countries needs military sustainability,” suggesting that Russia could play a stabilising role in the region’s ongoing security crisis.
But the move has also triggered sharp criticism. Political scientist Adálio Pereira argued the deal is detached from Mali’s pressing social and developmental needs.
“Terrorism cannot be fought with nuclear weapons,” he said, adding, “a cooperation agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy is beyond Mali’s capabilities,” calling it “a leap too far.”
Goïta’s trip to Moscow comes in the wake of the withdrawal of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner from Mali.
Wagner, which had operated in the country since December 2021, was widely criticised for alleged human rights abuses during its deployment.
The nuclear agreement was accompanied by the creation of a new Russia-Mali Intergovernmental Commission for trade, economic, scientific, and technical cooperation — a move expected to deepen bilateral ties despite international scrutiny.
As Mali navigates mounting domestic instability and international criticism, the nuclear pact may signal not only a shift in alliances but also a test of the country’s capacity to manage complex, high-risk technologies in the name of development and sovereignty.
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