Mali Strengthens Diplomatic Relations with Qatar

Oluwasegun SanusiFebruary 28, 20251 Mins read207

The Malian government under General Assimi Goïta has continued to expand its international partnerships, as they received Dr Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, Qatar’s Minister of State, at the presidential palace. The Qatari official delivered a message of solidarity and friendship from the Emir of Qatar, reaffirming Doha’s commitment to strengthening ties with Bamako.

The meeting was reported to be focused on deepening diplomatic cooperation between the two nations, with discussions highlighting Mali’s ongoing efforts in security and development. The visit was part of a broader diplomatic tour in Africa to reinforce Qatar’s presence in the sub-region.

Key Malian officials, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Economy, attended the audience.

Talks emphasised bilateral cooperation, economic collaboration, and joint efforts in the fight against terrorism.

It will be recalled that Malian authorities have recently been involved in security relations and diplomatic ties with other countries. Malian and Senegalese defence forces recently launched joint patrols along their shared border to counter rising insecurity driven by jihadist attacks.

The initiative, officially launched on February 20, 2025, in the border town of Diboli, follows a surge in violence attributed to the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group.

In a related move, the Malian government reinforced ties with Morocco by launching a Joint Military Commission. The initiative was officially inaugurated on Monday at the Malian Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs, where a delegation of experts from the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, led by Brigadier General Abdelghani Mouhib, was received.

Mali also recently reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening military cooperation with Senegal, particularly in the fight against terrorism and cross-border crime, despite Mali’s recent withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

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