Mali Reaffirms Its Support for the Moroccan Character of the Sahara and for Autonomy

This position was set forth in the joint communiqué issued following the conclusion of the fourth session of the High-Level Joint Moroccan-Malian Cooperation Commission, held in the capital, Bamako, under the joint chairmanship of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, and his Malian counterpart, Abdallah Diop.

The communiqué emphasized that Mali reaffirms its support for the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, and underscores that the autonomy initiative, in accordance with Security Council Resolution No. 2797, adopted on October 31, 2025, constitutes a serious and realistic basis for resolving this regional conflict.

This position is in line with the Malian government’s statement issued on April 10, 2026, in which it officially announced the withdrawal of its recognition of the separatist entity—a move that reflected a notable shift in Bamako’s approach to the Sahara issue.

Mali’s stance reinforces the ongoing diplomatic momentum surrounding the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, in a context where an increasing number of African countries have recently announced their explicit support for the autonomy initiative or have revised their previous positions regarding the conflict. Furthermore, this development coincides with a growing international consensus that views the Moroccan initiative as the most serious and realistic framework for achieving a lasting political solution, reflecting an upward trend toward the consolidation of the Moroccan proposal both in Africa and internationally.

The fourth session of the Morocco-Mali Joint Commission was held in Bamako from July 21 to 24 and provided an opportunity to examine prospects for strengthening bilateral cooperation and expanding collaboration between the two countries in various political, economic, and development areas.