At the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers, held in Istanbul on June 21–22, 2025, Mali called for a more balanced and equitable global order. Amidst ongoing global tensions and what it described as a weakening of international cooperation frameworks, Mali advocated for a system rooted in the sovereign equality of nations, non-interference, and strict adherence to international law.
Representing the Malian government, Ambassador Seydou Coulibaly, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed the council and welcomed the session’s theme, “The OIC in a Changing World.” He underscored the scale of geopolitical disruption and criticized the ineffectiveness of global institutions in addressing interconnected global crises.
In this context, Mali emphasized the importance of strengthened Islamic cooperation as a tool for rebuilding trust, addressing global inequalities, and promoting solidarity among member states. The delegation firmly rejected neocolonial approaches and the application of unilateral sanctions, calling them politically driven and unjust. Mali also spoke out against the selective use of human rights rhetoric, urging consistency and fairness in international advocacy.
On regional matters, the Malian delegation reported progress in restoring state authority across previously insecure areas. It credited these improvements to increased cooperation within the Confederation of Sahel States (AES)—a coalition formed in 2024 by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger – which now coordinates military and political responses to threats in the Sahel. The delegation described this shift as a conscious move away from externally imposed security solutions.
