Côte d’Ivoire’s national intelligence coordinator, Vassiriki Traoré, has visited Mali for talks on counterterrorism and intelligence sharing, signalling renewed efforts to improve security cooperation between the neighbouring countries.
Traoré spent three days in Bamako from 15 October at the invitation of Mali’s National Agency for State Security director-general, General Modibo Koné, according to security sources.
The visit comes amid a gradual thaw in relations following years of diplomatic tensions. In August, a joint technical commission agreed on the final demarcation of the Mali–Côte d’Ivoire border, although a delimitation treaty remains to be signed.
Relations deteriorated in July 2022 when Mali arrested 49 Ivorian soldiers accused of being mercenaries, a charge rejected by Abidjan, which said they were deployed as part of a United Nations mission. The 46 soldiers who remained in detention were pardoned in January 2023.
Closer ties also carry significant economic importance. Mali, a landlocked country, relies on Ivorian transport routes for part of its international trade. Cargo traffic between the two countries through the Port of Abidjan rose by 76.4% in 2025 to 1.47 million tonnes, according to port data.
The talks reflect broader efforts to rebuild cooperation on security and border management as both countries confront regional threats.
