U.S. officials visit Mali as junta eyes economic and security ties
Mali's junta government is seeking U.S. support in combating Islamist insurgents and fostering economic cooperation.
U.S. officials, including Deputy Assistant Secretary William Stevens, met with Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop in Bamako to discuss these matters.
Mali aims to strengthen ties within a regional bloc of military-led governments, which face diminished U.S. security partnerships.
Junta-led Mali is courting U.S. investment and backing in its fight against Islamist insurgents, as it works to strengthen a regional bloc of military-led governments in West Africa.
On Monday, U.S. officials met with Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop in Bamako. The delegation was led by William Stevens, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for West Africa, Bloomberg reported.
'We discussed the fight against armed terrorist groups supported by foreign state sponsors,' Diop said.
Other topics discussed included the potential for deeper economic cooperation, particularly through increased American private investment in Mali, as well as opportunities made possible by what officials described as improvements in the country's business climate.
The meeting, at least the second between U.S. and Malian officials this month, shows Washington's attempt to re-engage in a region where its security presence has significantly diminished.
Last year, the U.S. withdrew troops from Chad after being asked to vacate a military base, and also shut down a drone facility in neighbouring Niger.
Alliance shift
Mali, Chad, and Niger form part of a corridor of military-led governments stretching from Guinea on the Atlantic coast to Sudan on the Red Sea. As U.S. security partnerships in these countries have unravelled, many have pivoted toward alternative alliances, most notably with Russia.
On the security front, Russian mercenary forces have become key backers of Mali's transitional government, led by Colonel Assimi Goïta, following the exit of French and U.N. troops who had supported counter-insurgency operations in the country for more than a decade.
Russia's growing influence also extends to the economic sphere. Earlier this month, construction began on a new Russian-backed gold refinery near Bamako's international airport. Spanning five hectares, the facility will be capable of processing up to 200 metric tons of gold annually, which is four times Mali's current capacity of approximately 50 tons.
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