Casablanca – Mali has reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan for the Western Sahara, describing it as the only credible and realistic solution to the regional dispute.
The position was included in the joint statement issued Friday after the fourth session of the Morocco-Mali Joint Cooperation Commission in Bamako. The meeting was co-chaired by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Malian counterpart Abdoulaye Diop.
The statement also reasserted Mali’s support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his personal envoy. It noted that Morocco’s Autonomy Plan remains the basis for resolving the dispute, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31, 2025.
The announcement builds on Mali’s decision in April to withdraw its recognition of the self-proclaimed “Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).”
The commission, held from July 21 to 24, focused on the state of cooperation between the two countries and ways to expand it.
Cooperation moves beyond politics
Beyond the Sahara dossier, Rabat and Bamako agreed to push their partnership further.
The ministers called for stronger economic and trade ties, as well as greater cooperation in agriculture, energy, health, education, and vocational training. They also pointed to recent technical visits between the two countries, stressing they should lead to new joint projects.
A business forum held alongside the commission brought together Moroccan and Malian companies to discuss new opportunities. Several cooperation agreements were also signed, with both governments pledging to ensure their implementation.
Mali has also backed King Mohammed VI’s initiative to provide Sahel countries with access to the Atlantic Ocean. The joint statement described it as an important framework for regional cooperation. It also referred to the King’s meeting last year with the foreign ministers of the Alliance of Sahel States, saying Bamako remains committed to gradually implementing projects linked to the initiative.
Morocco and Mali have maintained close relations for years, with cooperation spanning education, agriculture, religious affairs, security, and investment. Rabat has also increased its engagement with Bamako through technical cooperation and development projects.
While in Bamako, Bourita was received by Mali’s transitional president, General Assimi Goita. According to the Moroccan Foreign Ministry, Goita thanked King Mohammed VI for Morocco’s support for Mali’s sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity, and expressed his country’s willingness to deepen cooperation in different fields.
