Assimi Goïta

Assimi Goïta
Goïta in 2021
6th President of Mali
Incumbent
Assumed office
24 May 2021
Prime MinisterChoguel Kokalla Maïga
Abdoulaye Maïga (interim)
Preceded byBah Ndaw (interim)
Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 May 2026
PresidentHimself
Prime MinisterAbdoulaye Maïga (interim)
Preceded bySadio Camara
President of the Confederation of Sahel States
In office
6 July 2024 – 24 December 2025
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byIbrahim Traoré
Chairman of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People
In office
18 August 2020 – 25 September 2020
Vice ChairmanMalick Diaw
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Interim Vice President of Mali
In office
25 September 2020 – 24 May 2021
PresidentBah Ndaw (interim)
Preceded byMalick Diaw
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Personal details
Born (1983-11-09) 9 November 1983 (age 42)
Bamako, Mali
PartyIndependent
SpouseLala Diallo
EducationJoint Military School
Prytanée militaire de Kati
Military service
AllegianceMali
Branch/serviceMalian Army
Years of service
2002–present
RankGénéral d'Armée
UnitAutonomous Special Forces Battalion
Battles/warsMali War
War in the Sahel

Assimi Goïta (born 9 November 1983) is a Malian politician and military officer who has ruled Mali since 2021. He has served as the sixth president of Mali since 2025, previously serving as the interim vice president under Interim President Bah Ndaw from 2020 to 2021 and then as the interim president until 2025. He also served as the president of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) from 2024 to 2025.

Born in Bamako, Goïta graduated from the Joint Military School in 2002 and was later assigned to the 134th Reconnaissance Squadron in Gao. Goïta also attended advanced military training and courses in Germany, Gabon, France and the United States. Following a coup in August 2020, Goïta became Mali's de facto leader as chairman of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, a military junta that seized power from former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. The following month, Goïta was appointed the interim vice president under the new interim president Bah Ndaw, to whom Goïta had transferred power in response to international pressure.

In May 2021, following a dispute in the government, Goïta seized power from Ndaw in another coup and was subsequently appointed interim president. His rule has seen increased authoritarianism domestically, as well as strained relations with ECOWAS, the United Nations, and France. Goita's government cut military ties with France and became allied with Russia and the Wagner Group. In January 2024, Goïta announced Mali's withdrawal from ECOWAS and later formed the AES with Ibrahim Traoré and Abdourahamane Tiani, the military leaders of Burkina Faso and Niger respectively.

Early life and military career

Goïta with American diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield in 2021

Goïta was born in 1983. A member of the Minianka tribe and the son of a military officer, he was trained in the military academies of Mali and notably attended the Prytanée Militaire de Kati and the Joint Military School in Koulikoro.

Goïta served as a colonel in the Autonomous Special Forces Battalion, the special forces unit of the Malian Armed Forces.[citation needed] He commanded the Malian special forces in the center of the country with the rank of colonel, and took part in the jihadist insurgency in Mali. In 2018, he met the future Guinean coup leader and president Mamady Doumbouya.

Goïta received further military training from the United States, France, and Germany, and had experience working with United States Army Special Forces.

Coup leader and President of Mali

First coup d'état and vice presidency (2020)

Inauguration of Goïta as vice president

Goïta served as the leader of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, a group of rebels who overthrew Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in the 2020 Malian coup d'état, and have pledged to initiate new elections to replace him. Because of this pledge, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) pressured Mali's ruling junta to ensure that the country would be led by a civilian.

On 21 September, Goïta was named interim vice president by a group of 17 electors, with Bah Ndaw being appointed interim president. They were to hold the position for 18 months, until new elections. He took the oath of office on 25 September 2020. On 1 October 2020, the "Mali Transition Letter" was published where it was specified, in response to the request of ECOWAS, that the vice president "in charge of defense and security issues" would not be able to replace President Bah Ndaw.

Second coup d'état and current rule (2021–present)

Goïta was involved in a second coup d'état on 24 May 2021, after which he seized power. President Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane were detained. Goïta claimed that Ndaw was attempting to "sabotage" the transition to democracy, and committed to elections in 2022. The coup was instigated by Goita's claim that Ndaw failed to consult him about a cabinet reshuffle. It was alleged that one of the motives for the latest coup was the removal of Colonel Sadio Camara as defense minister. Camara was reinstated as defense minister by Goïta following his takeover.

On 28 May 2021, the constitutional court declared him interim president of Mali. The court ruling stated that Goïta should carry the title "president of the transition, head of state" to "lead the transition process to its conclusion". On the same day, he said that he would name a prime minister from the M5-RFP coalition. Choguel Kokalla Maïga was eventually nominated to form a cabinet. On 20 July 2021, Goïta was attacked by a knife-wielding man while praying at the Grand Mosque in Bamako amid festivities for the Eid al-Adha. The attacker was then immediately arrested after failing to stab the President. Overall two men were arrested by the security forces. One of them was, however, found to be a special forces soldier wrongly assumed to be the attacker's accomplice. The knifeman, identified as a teacher, died in custody five days after the attack. The cause of death is unknown.

Goïta with prime minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga in August 2022

On 23 June 2023, a constitutional referendum took place, with 97% of voters supporting the adoption of the proposed constitution. 39.4% of registered voters participated in the referendum. The new constitution was controversial, with critics alleging that the referendum was compromised and that the new constitution would make democratic reforms less likely. On 25 July 2023, it was announced that Goïta had pardoned 46 soldiers from Ivory Coast that had been sentenced in December 2022. In July 2023, Goïta attended the 2023 Russia–Africa Summit in Saint Petersburg in his first foreign visit since the 2021 coup. After the summit ended, he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss Russia's ongoing economic and humanitarian support for Mali. During the meeting, Goïta accused countries sanctioning Mali of engaging in a "neocolonialist practice", according to a transcript by the Kremlin.

Goïta with Russian president Vladimir Putin in July 2023

Goïta declared his support for the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) junta in Niger in the wake of the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état, and the CNSP later gave the Malian Armed Forces permission to enter Niger. In October 2023, Goïta held a telephone conversation with Putin, his third in less than two months, in which they discussed trade and security relations. Goïta later publicly "expressed [his] gratitude for all the support that Russia provides to Mali."

In October 2024, Goïta self-promoted to the rank of general of the Malian Army. He indefinitely postponed elections in 2024 and dissolved all political parties in May 2025. On 3 July 2025, the National Transitional Council allowed Goïta to stay in office for a five-year term, renewable "as many times as necessary" and without requiring an election.

On 25 April 2026, the Azawad Liberation Front and Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin jointly launched attacks across Mali. According to the junta, the insurgents attempted to kill Goïta at his residence with a car bomb. He disappeared from public view, and resurfaced on April 29, meeting with the Russian ambassador. On May 4, Goïta appointed himself defense minister to replace Sadio Camara, who was killed in the attacks. Military chief Oumar ⁠Diarra was appointed minister delegate.

2025 alleged coup attempt

This section is an excerpt from 2025 Malian protests § August security crackdown.[edit]

On August 14, Mali's senior military leadership announced it had thwarted an alleged coup attempt, arresting two generals (Abass Dembélé, former governor of Mopti Region, and Air Force Brigadier General Nema Sagara), several dozen military officers, soldiers, and civilians, as well as a French national and former lieutenant colonel in the National Gendarmerie who was accused of working on behalf of French intelligence services. The Chief of Staff of the National Guard was purportedly arrested as well. Rumors surrounding the arrests had supposedly been circulating throughout Mali in the days leading up to the announcement; no evidence was provided to legitimate claims made by the government.

The alleged coup is believed by outside observers to be tied to an internal power struggle within the military junta. Experts believe that a schism between Goïta and Defense Minister Sadio Camara over future elections influenced the arrests. Reportedly, the majority of those arrested were members of the National Guard, within which Camara had a strong base of support. Opposition to Goïta has been growing since 2024, with multiple key figures in the junta shifting/consolidating their support to/behind Camara. Several officials aligned with the Defense Minister were removed from their posts that year; Camara was largely cut off from the leadership's communications channels thereafter, prior to his assassination in 2026.

Economic policies

Under Goïta the government's stake in mining projects increases from 20% to 35%, with an option to acquire an additional 10%. Companies must pay new taxes and settle tax arrears, or face severe penalties. He advocates nationalization, which is shown in two mines, the Morila and Yatela mines, now entirely under state control. Additionally, an audit commissioned by Goïta allegedly revealed "irregularities" in mining contracts.

Public image

Assimi Goïta portrays himself as the "Defender and Liberator of Mali" and as a "Exceptional man in exceptional times", this mirrors with Malian myths and traditions. The national liberation rhetoric of Goïta is described as conservative populist rather than as traditional left-wing revolutionary one.

Personal life

Goïta is married to Lala Diallo. He is Muslim.

Notes

  1. ↑ De facto: 24–28 May 2021
    Interim: 28 May 2021 – 8 July 2025
  2. ↑ Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (as president)
  3. ↑ Bah Ndaw (as interim president)
  4. ↑ as Vice Chairman of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People

References

  1. ↑ "Mali leader Goita takes defence post after minister killed". Aljazeera.com. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
  2. ↑ "Who is Burkina Faso coup leader Lt-Col Damiba?". BBC. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2026. [...] and Mali's bearded Col Assimi Goïta, who is the youngest of the trio, having been born in 1983.
  3. ↑ "Président". Assimi Goïta. Retrieved 6 May 2026. Mr. Assimi Goïta (born in 1983) is a Malian military officer and statesman.
  4. ↑ "Qui est le colonel Assimi Goïta, à la tête de la junte militaire au Mali?" [Who is Colonel Assimi Goïta, at the head of the military junta in Mali?]. rfi.fr (in French). 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "Qui est le colonel Assimi Goita, nouvel homme fort du Mali après le putsch militaire?" [Who is Colonel Assimi Goita, Mali's new strongman after the military putsch?] (in French). L'Express. 20 August 2020. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  6. ↑ "Coup d'Etat au Mali: l'Afrique de l'Ouest se penche sur une situation "grave"" [Coup d'Etat in Mali: West Africa looks into a "serious" situation] (in French). Le Point. 20 August 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  7. ↑ "Mamady Doumbouya: Guinea coup leader sworn in as president". BBC News. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  8. ↑ Paquette, Danielle (21 August 2020). "Mali coup leader was trained by U.S. military, officers say". msn.com. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  9. ↑ Maclean, Ruth; Peltier, Elian (19 August 2020). "Mali Coup Leaders Pledge Democracy After Deposing President". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 "Ex-defence minister appointed Mali interim president, junta leader named VP". France 24. 21 September 2020. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  11. ↑ "Bah Ndaw named Mali's interim president, colonel named VP". Al Jazeera. 21 September 2020. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020.
  12. ↑ "Mali: l'ex-ministre de la Défense Bah N'Daw désigné président de transition" [Mali: former Minister of Defense Bah N'Daw appointed transitional president] (in French). RFI. 21 September 2020. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  13. ↑ "Mali: un ancien ministre de la Défense désigné président de transition du Mali" [Mali: a former Minister of Defense appointed transitional president of Mali]. french.china.org.cn (in French). 22 September 2020. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  14. ↑ "Mali: le président de la transition, Bah N'Daw, a prêté serment" [Mali: the president of the transition, Bah N'Daw, is sworn in] (in French). RFI. 25 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  15. ↑ "Au Mali, des militaires aux postes-clés du gouvernement de transition" [In Mali, soldiers in key positions in the transitional government] (in French). Le Monde. 6 October 2020. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  16. ↑ Ogunkeye, Erin (25 May 2021). "Mali junta leader says transitional president, PM have been stripped of duties". France 24. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  17. ↑ Akinwotu, Emmanuel (25 May 2021). "Mali: leader of 2020 coup takes power after president's arrest". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  18. ↑ "Mali transitional government restores ousted Camara as defence minister". Reuters. 12 June 2021. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  19. ↑ "Mali's top court declares coup leader Goita as interim president". Reuters. 29 May 2021. Archived from the original on 28 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  20. ↑ "Mali vice president named interim leader in coup-within-a-coup". Deutsche Welle. 29 May 2021. Archived from the original on 29 May 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  21. ↑ "New prime minister appointed in Mali". Anadolu Agency. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  22. ↑ "Mali says President Assimi Goita survives assassination attempt". Deutsche Welle. 20 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  23. ↑ "Mali's interim president Goïta doing 'very well' after assassination attempt". France 24, Agence France-Presse. France 24. 20 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  24. ↑ Diallo, Tiemoko; Lorgerie, Paul; Felix, Bate; Ba, Diadie; Inveen, Cooper (20 July 2021). "Mali leader says he was unharmed in 'isolated action' knife attack". Reuters. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  25. ↑ Diallo, Fatoumata; Laplace, Manon (23 July 2021). "Mali: An investigation into head of state Assimi Goïta's attempted assassination". The Africa Report. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  26. ↑ "Man accused of trying to kill Mali president dies in custody". Agence France-Presse. Al Jazeera. 26 July 2021.
  27. ↑ "Mali approves constitutional amendments in a referendum". Reuters. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  28. ↑ Booty, Natasha; Pivac, Mark (23 July 2023). "President's powers beefed up in new Mali constitution". BBC News. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  29. ↑ "46 Ivorian soldiers pardoned by junta depart Mali". France 24. 7 January 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  30. ↑ Monteau, Flore (28 July 2023). "Russia-Africa summit: Goïta and Traoré show support for Putin". The Africa Report. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  31. ↑ "African leaders tell Putin: 'We have a right to call for peace'". Reuters. 29 July 2023.
  32. ↑ "Meeting with Interim President of Mali Assimi Goïta". President of Russia. 29 July 2023. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  33. ↑ "Niger allows Mali, Burkina Faso troops to enter its territory in case of attack". Reuters. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  34. ↑ "Putin talks security with Malian leader in third phone call in two months". Reuters. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  35. ↑ "Mali's Junta Chief elevates himself to top Army rank". Africanews. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  36. ↑ "In Mali, democracy has been indefinitely postponed". Le Monde. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  37. ↑ Njie, Paul (14 May 2025). "Mali junta dissolves all political parties in latest opposition crackdown". BBC News. Retrieved 7 June 2025.
  38. ↑ "Mali military chief granted renewable five-year presidential term". Al Jazeera. 4 July 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  39. 1 2 "Mali military leader Goita emerges as Russia declares it halted coup". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 5 May 2026. Goita's office published photos of the meeting on Tuesday in what was his first public appearance since rebel attacks over the weekend that killed one of his ministers. [...] No statement accompanied the photos of Goita's meeting with Russian Ambassador Igor Gromyko [...]
  40. ↑ "Junta leader Assimi Goita target of April attacks, Malian army says". africanews. 7 May 2026. This is why the terrorists had several suicide vehicles at their disposal, the second of which was intended for the residence of the Head of State, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, General Assimi Goita.
  41. ↑ "Assimi Goïta: Mali junta leader names himself defence minister after predecessor killed". BBC. 4 May 2026. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
  42. ↑ Egbejule, Eromo (15 August 2025). "Mali's junta arrests generals and French national over alleged coup plot". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  43. 1 2 "Mali says thwarted coup supported by 'foreign states' – DW – 08/15/2025". dw.com. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  44. 1 2 3 4 5 "M23 Violates DRC Ceasefire, Mali Coup, El Fasher Assault: Africa File, August 14, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  45. ↑ "Mali arrests dozens of soldiers over alleged bid to topple junta". RFI. 10 August 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  46. ↑ "Mali: le Français arrêté par les autorités est l'objet d'«accusations sans fondement», affirme Paris". RFI (in French). 16 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  47. 1 2 "Mali soldiers arrested over coup allegations: What we know". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  48. ↑ SOW, Mapathé (8 July 2025). "Mali: President Assimi Goïta asserts his mining sovereignty with a crack team". Or Noir Africa. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  49. ↑ Bøås, Morten; Haavik, Viljar (28 April 2025). "Winning hearts and power: how Mali's military regime gained popular support". The Conversation. doi:10.64628/AAJ.eujmehmv3.
  50. ↑ "Winning hearts and power: how Mali's military regime gained popular support". NUPI. 30 April 2025.
  51. ↑ "Perpetuating Populist Transition: The New Model of Ruling Military Regimes in West Africa". Emirates Policy Center. 7 May 2025.
  52. ↑ Coulibaly, Justin (6 August 2021). "Epouse du colonel Assimi Goïta, Lala Diallo enflamme la Toile". Afrik.com. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  53. ↑ Finnan, Daniel (2 September 2020). "Mali's 'Black Panther': who is military junta leader Assimi Goita?". RFI. Retrieved 7 May 2026. Goita is a devout Muslim.