Mali and South Africa have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, supporting the Confederation of Sahel States (ESA), and enhancing cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
This came during a meeting in Bamako on July 14, 2025, between Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop and South African Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo, accompanied by the chargé d’affaires ad interim.
Discussions focused on boosting economic cooperation, noting a rise in Malian exports to South Africa from 250,000 to 12.9 million rand (approx. USD 770,000) over the past year, while South African imports to Mali reached USD 74.3 million in 2024.
The two nations emphasized shared strategic interests, including alignment with the BRICS development agenda, particularly in food security and rural growth.
Security cooperation was also a key focus, with both sides addressing concerns over cross-border terrorist threats and suspected support from neighboring states.
Ambassador Seokolo voiced South Africa’s support for the AES, viewing it as crucial to Africa’s geopolitical realignment. As current chair of the AES, Mali aims to consolidate regional leadership, with its economy showing a 4% growth in 2024—driven largely by agriculture, a sector poised to benefit from enhanced bilateral cooperation.
