Biography:Assimi Goïta

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Short description: Leader of Mali (2020; since 2021)


"Goïta" redirects here. For the Japanese game, see Goita.
Général d'Armée

Assimi Goïta
File:Assimi Goïta in July 2023.jpg
Goïta in 2023
6th President of Mali
Assumed office
24 May 2021[lower-alpha 1]
Preceded byBah Ndaw (interim)
Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs
Assumed office
4 May 2026[1]
PresidentHimself
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[lower-alpha 2]
Succeeded byPosition abolished[lower-alpha 3]
Interim Vice President of Mali
In office
25 September 2020 – 24 May 2021
PresidentBah Ndaw (interim)
Preceded byMalick Diaw[lower-alpha 4]
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Personal details
Born9 november 1983
Bamako, Mali
Political partyIndependent
Spouse(s)Lala Diallo
Alma materJoint Military School
Prytanée militaire de Kati
Military service
AllegianceMali
Branch/serviceMalian Army
RankGénéral d'Armée
UnitAutonomous Special Forces Battalion
Battles/warsMali War
War in the Sahel

Assimi Goïta (born 1983) is a Malian 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 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. Goïta'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 Alliance of Sahel States with the military leaders of Burkina Faso and Niger.

Early life and military career

File:Linda Thomas-Greenfield met with Malian Transition President Goïta - 2021.jpg
Goïta with American diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield in 2021

Goïta was born in 1983.[2][3] A member of the Minianka tribe and the son of a military officer,[4] he was trained in the military academies of Mali and notably attended the Prytanée Militaire de Kati and the Joint Military School in Koulikoro.[5]

Goïta served as a colonel in the Autonomous Special Forces Battalion, the special forces unit of the Malian Armed Forces. 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.[6] In 2018, he met the future Guinean coup leader and president Mamady Doumbouya.[7]

Goïta received further military training from the United States, France, and Germany, and had experience working with United States Army Special Forces.[8]

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.[9] 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.[10]

On 21 September, Goïta was named interim vice president by a group of 17 electors, with Bah Ndaw being appointed interim president.[11][10][12] They were to hold the position for 18 months, until new elections.[10] He took the oath of office on 25 September 2020.[13][14] 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.[15]

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

Goita with prime minister Choguel Kokalla Maïga in August 2022
Goïta with Russian president Vladimir Putin in July 2023

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 Goïta's claim that Ndaw failed to consult him about a cabinet reshuffle.[16][17] 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.[18]

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.[19][20] Choguel Kokalla Maïga was eventually nominated to form a cabinet.[21] 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.[22] The attacker was then immediately arrested after failing to stab the President.[23] Overall two men were arrested by the security forces.[24] One of them was, however, found to be a special forces soldier wrongly assumed to be the attacker's accomplice.[25] The knifeman, identified as a teacher, died in custody five days after the attack. The cause of death is unknown.[26]

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.[27] The new constitution was controversial, with critics alleging that the referendum was compromised and that the new constitution would make democratic reforms less likely.[28] On 25 July 2023, it was announced that Goïta had pardoned 46 soldiers from Ivory Coast that had been sentenced in December 2022.[29] In July 2023, Goïta attended the 2023 Russia–Africa Summit in Saint Petersburg in his first foreign visit since the 2021 coup.[30][31] 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.[32]

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.[33] 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."[34]

In October 2024, Goïta self-promoted to the rank of general of the Malian Army.[35] He indefinitely postponed elections in 2024 and dissolved all political parties in May 2025.[36][37] On 3 July 2025, the National Transitional Council allowed Goita to stay in office for a five-year term, renewable "as many times as necessary" and without requiring an election.[38]

On 25 April 2026, the Azawad Liberation Front and Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin jointly launched attacks across Mali.[39] According to the junta, the insurgents attempted to kill Goïta at his residence with a car bomb.[40] He disappeared from public view, and resurfaced on April 29, meeting with the Russian ambassador.[39] 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.[41]

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.[42]

Personal life

Goïta is married to Lala Diallo.[43] He is Muslim.[44]

See also

  • List of current heads of state and government
  • List of heads of the executive by approval rating

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. ↑ https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/4/mali-leader-goita-takes-defence-post-after-minister-killed?_gl=1*ejbfyq*_ga*MjZFNVVoODhqWnQ2T1AzaEFtbm5Ib2FlUzFlLUgxdlMyc0hVRGJKUmFHdDlfSFdudjFaRjMyZmpWeTN4NWZQMQ..*_ga_XN9JB9Q0M1*MTc3ODIzMzU2OS40NS4xLjE3NzgyMzM1NzAuMC4wLjA.
  2. ↑ "Who is Burkina Faso coup leader Lt-Col Damiba?" (in en-GB). 2022-01-26. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-60141195. "[...] and Mali's bearded Col Assimi Goïta, who is the youngest of the trio, having been born in 1983." 
  3. ↑ "Président". https://assimi.goita.ml/president/. "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?" (in fr). 21 August 2020. https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20200821-colonel-assimi-go%C3%AF-t%C3%AAte-junte-militaire-mali. 
  5. ↑ "Qui est le colonel Assimi Goita, nouvel homme fort du Mali après le putsch militaire?" (in fr). L'Express. 20 August 2020. https://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/monde/afrique/qui-est-le-colonel-assimi-goita-nouvel-homme-fort-du-mali-apres-le-putsch-militaire_2133173.html. 
  6. ↑ "Coup d'Etat au Mali: l'Afrique de l'Ouest se penche sur une situation "grave"" (in fr). Le Point. 20 August 2020. https://www.lepoint.fr/monde/coup-d-etat-au-mali-l-afrique-de-l-ouest-se-penche-sur-une-situation-grave-20-08-2020-2388418_24.php#. 
  7. ↑ "Mamady Doumbouya: Guinea coup leader sworn in as president". BBC News. October 2021. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58761621. 
  8. ↑ Paquette, Danielle (21 August 2020). "Mali coup leader was trained by U.S. military, officers say". The Washington Post. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mali-coup-leader-was-trained-by-us-military-officers-say/ar-BB18dXcN. 
  9. ↑ Maclean, Ruth; Peltier, Elian (19 August 2020). "Mali Coup Leaders Pledge Democracy After Deposing President" (in en-US). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/19/world/africa/mali-military-coup.html. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Ex-defence minister appointed Mali interim president, junta leader named VP" (in en). France 24. 21 September 2020. https://www.france24.com/en/20200921-ex-defence-minister-appointed-mali-interim-president-junta-leader-named-vp. 
  11. ↑ "Bah Ndaw named Mali's interim president, colonel named VP". Al Jazeera. 21 September 2020. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/ba-named-mali-interim-president-colonel-named-vp-200921145418103.html. 
  12. ↑ "Mali: l'ex-ministre de la Défense Bah N'Daw désigné président de transition" (in fr). RFI. 21 September 2020. https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20200921-l-ex-ministre-la-d%C3%A9fense-Bah-N-Daw-d%C3%A9sign%C3%A9-pr%C3%A9sident-transition-mali. 
  13. ↑ "Mali: un ancien ministre de la Défense désigné président de transition du Mali" (in fr). 22 September 2020. http://french.china.org.cn/foreign/txt/2020-09/22/content_76726638.htm. 
  14. ↑ "Mali: le président de la transition, Bah N'Daw, a prêté serment" (in fr). RFI. 25 September 2020. https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20200925-mali-le-pr%C3%A9sident-la-transition-bah-n-daw-a-pr%C3%AAt%C3%A9-serment. 
  15. ↑ "Au Mali, des militaires aux postes-clés du gouvernement de transition" (in fr). Le Monde. 6 October 2020. https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2020/10/06/au-mali-des-militaires-aux-postes-cles-du-gouvernement-de-transition_6054909_3212.html. 
  16. ↑ Ogunkeye, Erin (25 May 2021). "Mali junta leader says transitional president, PM have been stripped of duties". France 24. http://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210525-mali-junta-leader-says-transitional-president-pm-have-been-stripped-of-duties. 
  17. ↑ Emmanuel Akinwotu (25 May 2021). "Mali: leader of 2020 coup takes power after president's arrest". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/24/mali-president-prime-minister-and-defence-minister-arrested-sources-say. 
  18. ↑ "Mali transitional government restores ousted Camara as defence minister". Reuters. 12 June 2021. https://www.reuters.com/article/ozatp-uk-mali-politics-idAFKCN2DO04C-OZATP. 
  19. ↑ "Mali's top court declares coup leader Goita as interim president". Reuters. 29 May 2021. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/malis-top-court-declares-coup-leader-goita-interim-president-2021-05-28/. 
  20. ↑ "Mali vice president named interim leader in coup-within-a-coup". Deutsche Welle. 29 May 2021. https://www.dw.com/en/mali-vice-president-named-interim-leader-in-coup-within-a-coup/a-57710200. 
  21. ↑ "New prime minister appointed in Mali". 2021-06-01. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/new-prime-minister-appointed-in-mali/2260971. 
  22. ↑ "Mali says President Assimi Goita survives assassination attempt". Deutsche Welle. 20 July 2021. https://www.dw.com/en/mali-says-president-assimi-goita-survives-assassination-attempt/a-58376438. 
  23. ↑ "Mali's interim president Goïta doing 'very well' after assassination attempt". France 24, Agence France-Presse (France 24). 20 July 2021. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210720-mali-s-interim-president-goita-targeted-in-knife-attack-at-bamako-mosque. 
  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. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/mali-presidency-says-president-goita-targeted-by-stabbing-attack-2021-07-20/. 
  25. ↑ Diallo, Fatoumata; Laplace, Manon (23 July 2021). "Mali: An investigation into head of state Assimi Goïta's attempted assassination". The Africa Report. https://www.theafricareport.com/111458/mali-an-investigation-has-been-opened-into-assimi-goitas-attempted-assassination//. 
  26. ↑ "Man accused of trying to kill Mali president dies in custody". Agence France-Presse (Al Jazeera). 26 July 2021. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/26/man-accused-of-trying-to-kill-mali-president-dies-in-custody. 
  27. ↑ "Mali approves constitutional amendments in a referendum" (in en). Reuters. 2023-06-23. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/mali-approves-constitutional-amendments-referendum-2023-06-23/. 
  28. ↑ "President's powers beefed up in new Mali constitution" (in en-GB). 2023-07-23. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66282417. 
  29. ↑ "46 Ivorian soldiers pardoned by junta depart Mali" (in en). 2023-01-07. https://www.france24.com/en/video/20230107-the-pardon-comes-a-week-after-an-official-visit-to-bamako-by-an-ivorian-delegation. 
  30. ↑ Monteau, Flore (2023-07-28). "Russia-Africa summit: Goïta and Traoré show support for Putin". The Africa Report. https://www.theafricareport.com/317101/russia-africa-summit-assimi-goita-and-ibrahim-traore-show-support-for-vladimir-putin/. 
  31. ↑ "African leaders tell Putin: 'We have a right to call for peace'". Reuters. 2023-07-29. https://www.reuters.com/world/putin-tells-african-leaders-moscow-is-studying-their-ukraine-proposal-2023-07-28/. 
  32. ↑ "Meeting with Interim President of Mali Assimi Goïta" (in en). 2023-07-29. http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/71842. 
  33. ↑ "Niger allows Mali, Burkina Faso troops to enter its territory in case of attack" (in en). Reuters. 2023-08-24. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/niger-allows-mali-burkina-faso-troops-enter-its-territory-case-attack-2023-08-24/. 
  34. ↑ "Putin talks security with Malian leader in third phone call in two months". Reuters. 2023-10-10. https://www.reuters.com/world/putin-talks-security-with-malian-leader-third-phone-call-two-months-2023-10-10/. 
  35. ↑ "Mali's Junta Chief elevates himself to top Army rank". Africanews. 2024-10-17. https://www.africanews.com/2024/10/17/malis-junta-chief-elevates-himself-to-top-army-rank/. 
  36. ↑ "In Mali, democracy has been indefinitely postponed" (in en). Le Monde. 2024-05-19. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/opinion/article/2024/05/19/in-mali-democracy-has-been-indefinitely-postponed_6671934_23.html. 
  37. ↑ Njie, Paul (14 May 2025). "Mali junta dissolves all political parties in latest opposition crackdown". BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqj7z92xw9no. 
  38. ↑ "Mali military chief granted renewable five-year presidential term". 4 July 2025. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/4/mali-military-chief-granted-renewable-five-year-presidential-term. 
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 "Mali military leader Goita emerges as Russia declares it halted coup" (in en). https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/28/malis-military-leader-goita-emerges-as-russia-declares-it-halted-coup. "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". 2026-05-07. https://www.africanews.com/2026/05/07/junta-leader-assimi-goita-target-of-april-attacks-malian-army-says/. ""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" (in en-GB). 2026-05-04. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8r8jr7x8mlo. 
  42. ↑ SOW, Mapathé (8 July 2025). "Mali: President Assimi Goïta asserts his mining sovereignty with a crack team". https://ornoirafrica.com/en/mali-president-assimi-goita-asserts-his-mining-sovereignty-with-a-crack-team/. 
  43. ↑ Coulibaly, Justin (6 August 2021). "Epouse du colonel Assimi Goïta, Lala Diallo enflamme la Toile". Afrik.com. https://www.afrik.com/epouse-du-colonel-assimi-goita-lala-diallo-enflamme-la-toile. 
  44. ↑ Finnan, Daniel (2020-09-02). "Mali's 'Black Panther': who is military junta leader Assimi Goita?" (in en). https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20200902-mali-s-black-panther-who-is-military-junta-leader-assimi-goita. "Goita is a devout Muslim." 


Political offices
Preceded by
Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta
as President of Mali 		Chairman of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People of Mali
2020 		Succeeded by
Bah Ndaw
as Interim President of Mali

Template:MaliPresidents Template:Heads of state of republics



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