Assimi Goïta

Assimi Goïta (born 9 November 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...