The ceremony reserved for Sergei Lavrov was worthy of a Head of State: welcome in front of the cameras as soon as he got off the plane, presentation of the Commander of the National Order medal and above all a long one-on-one with the head of the junta, Colonel Goïta , who greets “the quality of a sincere partnership oriented towards the defense of our interests“. Difficult to make clearer.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Bamako for talks with his counterpart from Mali, Abdoulaye Diop, and President of the Transitional Period, Assim Goito pic.twitter.com/FWhGdt7Hlw
— ‘Sprinter’ (@SprinterBV0000) February 7, 2023
Serguei Lavrov did not come to Mali as a simple Minister of Foreign Affairs, he came to record the replacement of France by Russia, whether in the economic or military field.
Arms full of commitments
The Foreign Minister first promised to step up help from Moscow in the fight against Al Qaeda and Islamic State jihadists. Not only in Mali, but also in the entire Sahelian zone – something the French army was unable to do. This involves new arms deliveries (Russia already provided Mali with war planes and helicopters in December and January) but also the dispatch of “instructors” (the official term for the mercenaries of Wagner, who have been deployed for two years already and regularly accused of abuses against civilians).
Russia | Mali: We continue to provide humanitarian aid in Mali, mainly through bilateral arrangements
I hope the shipment of wheat, fertilizers, petroleum products and other strategic goods will begin soon. | – Sergei Lavrov pic.twitter.com/oSboR1P3v3
— Rocky Ambay (@AmbayRocky) February 8, 2023
Economically, Russia wants to become a regular supplier of strategic products such as hydrocarbons and cereals. A first agreement is being finalized on “35,000 tons of fertilizer and 50,000 tons of wheatOn the diplomatic level, too, the rapprochement is accelerating: Colonel Goïta is due to participate in a Russia-Africa summit this summer in Saint Petersburg.
No more justifications
This alliance is clearly against Westerners. The head of Malian diplomacy is unambiguous: “We will not continue to justify ourselves for the choice of our partners“.
Like other African countries, Mali denounces the sanctions taken against Russia because of the war in Ukraine. And nods to the words of Sergei Lavrov who criticizes “the neo-colonial approach“of Westerners, a real mantra that he repeated throughout his various trips to Africa (nine countries visited in the last seven months).
Lavrov in Mali received a Tuareg takuba sword.
“I hope you will remember this gift,” said Mali’s foreign minister. “I’ll keep it handy,” joked Lavrov.
Really, Lavrov does his job remarkably well! pic.twitter.com/SWdVs4pb5B
— EAST/WEST (@NoisyLeon) February 7, 2023
And since the symbolism is mainly hidden in the details, Sergei Lavrov received as a gift a magnificent double-edged sword used in the Tuareg tradition to protect honor. Her name ? “Takouba”. This is the name that had been chosen for the European forces that were to help Mali in its fight against terrorism. “Takouba” is now in Russian hands. “I’ll keep it handy“, even joked the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs. No gift is too good for the new ally of Bamako.