The Republic of Mali announced on the 10th April 2026 that after an in-depth analysis concerning the Western Sahara issue which has an impact on sub-regional peace and security, the Republic of Mali has decided to withdraw its recognition of the ‘Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
This position was expressed in a statement by the Malian Government delivered by Mr. Abdoulaye DIOP, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Mali, at the end of his meeting with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, who made the trip to Mali for an official working visit.In the same Declaration, the head of the Malian diplomacy declared that “Mali supports the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco as the only serious and credible basis for the resolution of this dispute and considers that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the most realistic solution”. Mr Diop also also expressed ” that Mali supports the efforts of the United Nations and the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, as well as for Security Council resolutions, in particular resolution 2797 (2025), adopted on October 31, 2025”.In this regard, The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Mali has said that this decision will be shared with the regional and international organizations of which his country is a member, as well as with the diplomatic corps accredited in Bamako.
