Russia’s state geological company Rosgeologia has officially launched a major two-year mineral exploration and geological reassessment program in Mali, leading to an expansion of Moscow’s economic and strategic footprint in the Sahel region.
The announcement was made by Russian Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilev after a meeting of the Russian-Malian intergovernmental commission held during the 2026 KazanForum in Kazan, Russia.
According to Tsivilev, the project was agreed upon during the first bilateral commission in 2025 and aims to produce a comprehensive geological map of Mali while reassessing the country’s vast mineral reserves.
“We hope this program will be extended further. It is supported by the government. As a result, we will have a description of the mineral resource base,” Tsivilev said after the talks.
The Russian minister said the initiative is expected to sharply increase investment interest in Mali, a country believed to possess significant deposits of gold, lithium, uranium, manganese and other strategic minerals.
He added that the cooperation could also lead to the establishment of national digital geological platforms to modernize Mali’s mining sector.
Mali is already one of Africa’s leading gold producers, but analysts say large parts of the country remain underexplored due to years of insecurity and limited geological investment.
The move comes as Russia deepens its influence across the Sahel region through economic, military and energy partnerships, particularly in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, where relations with Western powers have deteriorated in recent years.
Tsivilev also announced that Russia and Mali are preparing to sign several major agreements during the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit scheduled for October.
The agreements are expected to focus on mining, energy, infrastructure and broader economic cooperation.
He further invited Malian companies to participate in the upcoming Russian Energy Week, an invitation that was accepted by the Malian delegation, signaling growing momentum in bilateral ties.
The developments announced at KazanForum highlight Moscow’s increasing push to secure long-term strategic partnerships and access to critical minerals in Africa amid rising global competition over natural resources and energy transition materials.