Goita pledges stronger military and domestic-led growth as Mali marks independence
Key Takeaways
- Goita pledged continued military operations and closer security cooperation with AES countries.
- His government projects Mali’s real GDP growth will reach 6.3% in 2026.
- Goita said mining reforms are generating funds for local development and infrastructure.
The Malian president used the country’s 66th Independence Day to outline plans for closer Sahel security cooperation and an economy built increasingly on domestic resources.
Malian President Assimi Goita has used the country’s 66th Independence Day to set out plans for stronger military operations, closer cooperation with Sahel allies and greater reliance on domestic resources to drive economic growth.
Speaking on Tuesday, Goita said Mali’s armed forces would continue operations aimed at protecting the country and its population, while working more closely with members of the Alliance of Sahel States and other strategic partners.
“The Malian army therefore intends to continue its operations to defend the territory and protect the population, in increasingly close collaboration, based on strengthened trust, with the armies of other AES countries and strategic partners,” Goita said.
Goita Backs Closer Sahel Cooperation
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger established the Alliance of Sahel States, known as AES, in 2023 as a mutual-defence pact. The three countries later formed a confederation and expanded their cooperation in security and economic matters.
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Goita said the alliance would continue pursuing greater sovereignty for its members while maintaining engagement with other regional bodies.
“Despite these challenges, the Alliance of Sahel States continues its determined march towards reaffirming the sovereignty of its member states through renewed cooperation with subregional and regional organisations,” he added.
Mali continues to face attacks from armed groups in parts of the country, including al-Qaeda-linked JNIM, amid wider insecurity across the Sahel.
Mali Targets Domestic-Led Economic Growth
Goita also focused on Mali’s economy, saying real GDP growth reached 5.6% in 2025 and is projected by his government to rise to 6.3% in 2026.
“The National Strategy for Emergence and Sustainable Development has been a genuine catalyst for creating the conditions for sovereign development based on our own resources and priorities,” he said.
“This new economic policy relies largely on mobilising domestic resources and ensuring their effective management,” he added.
Goita said reforms in the mining sector had generated 18.435 billion CFA francs for the Local Mining Development Fund.
Another 109.142 billion CFA francs had been generated for a fund supporting infrastructure in the energy, water and transport sectors, he said.
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This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
