Since August 1, Bamako has been connected directly to Lagos through a new service operated by Nigerian airline Air Peace, marking a new chapter in Mali–Nigeria relations.
The inaugural flight launched the Lagos–Bamako–Conakry route, which operates three times a week.
The new connection is expected to make travel between Mali and Nigeria easier while providing Malian passengers with access to Air Peace’s wider Nigerian network.
The development comes amid renewed efforts by Bamako and Abuja to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
On July 14, the two countries agreed to reactivate their Joint Cooperation Commission, with security, trade, energy, migration, human trafficking and air transport identified as priority areas.
Both governments are also seeking to revive their bilateral air services agreement, known as BASA, as part of efforts to improve connectivity and facilitate movement between their populations.
The renewed engagement comes despite Mali’s withdrawal from ECOWAS alongside Burkina Faso and Niger in January 2025.
The political separation has not ended bilateral relations between Mali and Nigeria, with both sides continuing to pursue economic and diplomatic cooperation.
The new Bamako–Lagos route therefore represents more than a commercial development.
It provides a visible sign of the continued economic and diplomatic ties between Mali and Nigeria as West Africa undergoes a major regional realignment.
