The Chairman of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, visited the headquarters of the African Union Mission for Mali and the Sahel (AUM) in Bamako on Monday, July 13.
Received by the High Representative of the organisation, Mamadou Tangara, he reaffirmed the commission’s support for this mission, which is tasked with promoting peace, stability, dialogue, and
sustainable development in Mali and the Sahel region.
Addressing the staff of the AUM Mission for Mali and the Sahel (MISAHEL) in Bamako, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission commended the work accomplished in implementing the continental mandate.
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf presented his visit as a demonstration of the organisation’s solidarity with the government and people of Mali, as well as its support for MISAHEL’s activities.
Mamadou Tangara stated, on behalf of the staff, that the commission chairperson’s visit confirmed the institution’s commitment to the mission.
The statement released after the meeting addressed the continuity of MISAHEL’s mandate and the commission’s political support for its staff. Issues related to programming, funding, and adapting the mandate will be addressed within the African Union’s decision-making frameworks.
Established in August 2013, MISAHEL is headquartered in Bamako. Its creation followed the transfer, on July 1 of the same year, of the African-led International Support Mission to Mali to the United
Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
The African Union then chose to maintain a political and technical presence in the country after the transformation of the African operation into a United Nations mission.
MISAHEL was tasked with coordinating the implementation of the African Union’s strategy for the Sahel.
This document is based on three pillars: governance, security, and development, and provides for
cooperation with African institutions, regional organisations, the states concerned, and international partners.
Unlike a military mission, its current function primarily involves political representation, dialogue, crisis monitoring, institutional coordination, and support for peace and development initiatives. Its
presence in Bamako allows the commission and the AU Peace and Security Council to maintain a permanent link with the Malian authorities and regional actors.
The leadership of the mission experienced a vacancy, which was noted in May 2024 by the AU Peace and Security Council.
The council requested the appointment of a High Representative, presented as a necessary interface between the commission, the council, and the states under transitional regimes.
The appointment of Mamadou Tangara was subsequently welcomed by the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government in February 2026.
A former Gambian foreign affairs minister, Tangara serves as the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for the Sahel and head of the Mission for the Sahel
(MISAHEL).
African leaders tasked him with intensifying contacts with stakeholders in the region and to lead the organisation’s diplomatic and strategic support.
The African Union Conference also called for strengthened coordination between the African Union, the Sahel countries, ECOWAS, the United Nations, and other partners.
Areas mentioned include early warning systems, counterterrorism, regional mediation, border management, and resource mobilisation.
In April 2026, Mamadou Tangara presented a report on Mali to the AU Peace and Security Council. The council requested that the commission intensify its high-level contacts with the Malian authorities and increase its technical support to the security sector, particularly in training, early warning, and strategic advice.
The council also recommended increased cooperation between Mali and its neighbors in intelligence sharing, joint border management, and actions against armed groups.
The protection of civilians, humanitarian access, and assistance to displaced persons were also
among the areas entrusted to the commission and its representation in Bamako for monitoring.
Mahmoud Ali Youssouf’s presence at the MISAHEL offices comes as the commission seeks to strengthen its workingcchannels with Sahelian countries. The African Union Conference tasked
Mamadou Tangara and the Special Envoy for the Sahel, Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, with developing continental contacts and organising AU political support in the region.
The statement issued following the visit emphasises the African Union Commission’s support for MISAHEL and the continuation of its mandate in Mali and the Sahel. The definition of its next activities will depend on consultations with the Malian authorities, the guidelines of the AU Peace and Security Council, and the resources mobilised for their implementation.
MD/ac/Sf/fss/as/APA