Darfur follow-up: Mali
Mali’s military government said it had signed an agreement with Russia to build a gold refinery in the capital, Bamako, one of a series of deals between the two countries as Russia seeks to expand its regional influence.
Minister Aluseni Sano said in an interview broadcast on state television that the agreement, which is a non-binding memorandum of understanding, includes building a refinery with a capacity of 200 tons annually.
He added that the memorandum is valid for four years, without specifying a timetable for construction. If built, it would be the largest gold refinery in the West African country.
“This will allow us to not only control all gold production but also be able to properly apply all taxes and fees,” Sano said.
The deal is the latest sign of Russia’s deepening interests in Mali, one of Africa’s largest gold producers, as Western influence there declines.
Sano said he also signed an agreement with a Russian company to build a 200-300 megawatt solar power plant by mid-2025. Russian state nuclear energy company Rosatom signed an agreement with Mali in October to explore for minerals and produce nuclear energy.
Mali’s army, which took power in a 2021 coup, last year expelled French forces, the former colonial power, who had been fighting rebel groups.
