Malian Prime Minister Major General Abdoulaye Maïga met with Leonardo Santos Simão, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, in Bamako on November 20.
This meeting, which took place days after a key UN session in New York dedicated to Sahel security, signals a resumption of direct, high-level contact between the Malian authorities and the United Nations following the withdrawal of the MINUSMA mission in December 2023.
Simão delivered a message of solidarity from the UN Secretary-General to the Transitional Government. The UN diplomat explained his visit was intended to gather guidance needed to strengthen UN support for Mali, and he commended the quality of the work currently being carried out by UN country teams on the ground.
The meeting followed the New York session focused on counter-terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel. During those talks, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) reaffirmed its commitment to taking full leadership of security operations, while simultaneously calling for international support that is better adapted to local realities.
Malian representative Issa Konfourou emphasized that the region has faced over a decade of attacks targeting civilians and infrastructure, stressing the necessity of cooperation that aligns directly with Sahelian priorities.
In Bamako, Prime Minister Maïga welcomed the UN’s initiative and praised the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) team for achievements in ongoing projects. He nonetheless stressed the need for UN reports to accurately reflect the situation observed on the ground, particularly in the context of restructured international cooperation following the MINUSMA departure.
The Prime Minister also addressed observed disruptions in the transport of hydrocarbons, which he attributed to setbacks recently suffered by armed terrorist groups in several areas. He stated that the Malian armed forces are now ensuring the continuity of the logistical system, and the country is currently undergoing a phase of gradual readjustment. He added that the efforts undertaken are also benefiting neighboring countries, stressing that the ongoing fight requires a clear regional commitment to sustainably reduce the threat.
The Special Representative’s visit is part of a dynamic of rapprochement between Bamako and the United Nations. This comes as the Malian authorities—along with other members of the AES—seek to redefine the modalities of their cooperation with the international community while maintaining and intensifying their own security operations.
MD/te/fss/abj/APA