Malian and Russian leaders on a phone call

The head of the junta in Mali and the Russian president had a telephone conversation on Wednesday, August 10, the day after Bamako received new military equipment from its Russian ally.

"We spoke of the support of the Russian Federation for Mali's political transition and I praised the quality of our partnership, respectful of the sovereignty of Mali and the aspirations of its population," declared President Assimi Goïta on his social media. The conversation comes the day after the Malian army's reception of new military equipment. This includes five planes and a combat helicopter which were handed at an official ceremony, in the presence of the head of the junta and Russian diplomats. During the ceremony, the Malian Defense Minister, Sadio Camara, praised the "win-win partnership with the Russian Federation."

Russia had already delivered several combat helicopters and weapons in March to Mali, which welcomed what the junta presents as Russian instructors in large numbers. Western partners denounce the use of the services of the private Russian army, called Wagner group.

Colonel Assimi Goïta also received on Wednesday Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and Mahamat Saleh Annadif, head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, in a context of tensions with the organization. They spoke of "common concerns," according to the Malian presidency.

This meeting was held a few days after 42 Malian soldiers were killed on Sunday in Tessit, in northeastern Mali, near the borders of Burkina Faso and Niger. This is the deadliest attack by jihadists against Malian forces since 2019. The Malian army incriminates the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS) and "external expertise."

During discussions between Assimi Goïta, Amina J. Mohammed and Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the case of the 49 Ivorian soldiers detained in Bamako was also mentioned. They are accused by the military in power in Mali of being "mercenaries", which Abidjan denies, and ensures that they were on a mission for the UN.