Summary:

On 24 September 2026, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop expressed support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara during the UN General Assembly in New York. Diop described the plan as the “only serious and credible basis” for resolving the dispute and linked Mali’s position to UN Security Council Resolution 2797. 

Mali had shifted from a position of neutrality to supporting Morocco’s autonomy plan in April 2026. The two countries also reaffirmed commitments to cooperation in trade, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and logistics during the fourth High Joint Commission held in Bamako in July. 

Outlook: 

Mali’s public support for Morocco’s position provides additional momentum for Rabat’s efforts to build international support for its sovereignty claim over Western Sahara and is likely to further strengthen bilateral relations, particularly as both countries expand cooperation on economic and security issues affecting the Sahel. 

The move also marks a notable shift in Mali’s regional partnerships, following a period in which relations with Algeria were more prominent. Closer Mali-Morocco ties could give Rabat greater scope to expand its role as an economic and security partner linking North Africa with the Sahel, while potentially creating further diplomatic distance between Bamako and Algiers on regional issues. 

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