Mali has officially withdrawn its recognition of Polisario’s self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, also known as SADR.
The news comes amid a visit by Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita to Bamako as part of his ongoing African tour.
Abdoulaye Diop, Mali’s Foreign Affairs Minister, announced his country’s position today following his meeting with Bourita.
Mali said that the decision came after an “in-depth analysis of this important dossier of the Sahara, which has an impact on sub-regional peace and security.”
With this decision, Mali joined a long and growing list of countries that withdrew recognition of Algerian-backed separatist group Polisario, which seeks to challenge Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara.
Mali officially recognized SADR in 1980. The Malian new shift now adds another blow to the separatist group and Algeria’s regime, who continue to support an outdated narrative, obstructing the UN-led political process to find an agreed-upon political solution to end the dispute.
Beyond the withdrawal of recognition, Mali also officially announced its decision to support Morocco’s Autonomy Plan proposal as the only serious and credible basis for resolving the dispute.
Mali said it considers the genuine autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty is the most realistic resolution.
It concluded its statement by expressing support for the UN-led political process led by UN Envoy Staffan de Mistura.
It also supports UN Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted in October last year, stating that the decision will be communicated to regional and international organizations of which Mali is a member.
Bamako said it will also convey its new decision to its diplomatic corps.
Over 120 countries in the international community view the Autonomy Plan the only or the most credible and realistic pathway to end the dispute.
The EU and the United Nations also back the initiative as a feasible political solution to end the dispute.
In October last year, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2797, describing the Autonomy Plan as a genuine political solution to end the regional dispute.
It also officially identified the main party to the dispute, urging Algeria’s regime to engage in the UN-led political process to contribute to finding a lasting and mutually acceptable political solution..
In February, the US facilitated talks between the main parties, involving Algeria’s regime, and backing the Autonomy Initiative as the only credible political solution to the Western Sahara dispute.
