Russia has signed new agreements to strengthen trade and economic relations with Mali, as President Vladimir Putin hosted the West African country’s military leader, Colonel Assimi Goita, in Moscow on Monday.

The two leaders met at the Kremlin for a two-hour discussion, according to Russian state media.

Putin described the relationship between Russia and Mali as following a “positive trajectory,” though he acknowledged that current trade volumes remain modest, Reuters reported.

He emphasized potential areas for deeper cooperation, including geological exploration, natural resource development, energy, logistics, and humanitarian efforts.

One of the key deals signed was focused on nuclear energy cooperation. The two countries have previously discussed a strategic plan to build a Russian-designed low-power nuclear plant in Mali.

The junta-led country is following a similar path to Burkina Faso, having taken a major step toward embracing nuclear energy by officially signing the final administrative document of a historic intergovernmental agreement with Russia last week.

This landmark deal represents a significant milestone in Mali’s efforts to diversify its energy sources and tackle the country’s growing electricity needs, as it seeks long-term solutions to power shortages and boost national development.

Russia’s expanding footprint in Africa
Earlier this month, construction also began on a new Russian-backed gold refinery in Mali. Set to be constructed on a five-hectare site near Bamako’s international airport, the refinery will have the capacity to process up to 200 metric tons of gold annually, a significant leap from Mali’s current processing capacity of about 50 tons.

Though Mali is one of Africa’s largest gold producers, it currently lacks a fully functional and globally certified refinery.

The country’s two existing facilities have been unable to meet the standards required by global bodies like the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), forcing miners to refine their gold abroad. The new refinery will produce gold with a purity of 99.5%, adhering to international certification standards.