West Africa: Mali Warns UN of Foreign Support for Terrorism in the Sahel

What the report says

Mali’s foreign minister, Abdoulaye Diop, used his address to the UN General Debate to accuse Ukraine of supporting armed groups in the Sahel and to argue that African states should have greater control over the region’s security, economy and natural resources. The remarks were reported by Foroyaa from the UN meeting, where Diop spoke for Mali’s transitional government and defended what he described as the country’s pursuit of strategic autonomy.

Diop said Mali would keep working with foreign partners, but only on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference. He framed Mali’s security crisis as part of a wider external effort to destabilize the country, saying terrorism in the Sahel is being sustained from outside through attacks, economic pressure and disinformation. He also referred to coordinated attacks in April and July 2026 in several parts of Mali, which he said caused heavy casualties.

The minister linked Mali’s response to the Confederation of Sahel States, or AES, the alliance formed by Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in July 2024 in Niamey. He said Malian forces are fighting alongside the AES unified force, with support from Russia, and reiterated that the bloc is open to cooperation with partners who respect sovereignty and territorial integrity. The speech reflects a broader shift in Mali’s foreign policy toward tighter regional alignment and reduced reliance on external powers.

Diop also said Mali’s drive for sovereignty extends beyond security to economic control, including management of gold and lithium resources, and cited national development plans aimed at long-term stability and growth.