Bamako – African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat reaffirmed the Union’s support for Mali as it faces security and humanitarian challenges. His remarks came during a meeting with Mali’s transitional president, Assimi Goïta, in Bamako, according to a statement from the African Union.
The statement said Mahamat emphasized the Union’s readiness to continue assisting Mali in its efforts to promote stability and development. He stressed that combating terrorism requires broad regional cooperation, as security threats often cross borders. Mahamat added that the African Union will maintain support for Mali through its various institutions, including the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the African Union Development Agency (NEPAD). He also reiterated the organization’s commitment to accompanying Mali’s efforts to strengthen national unity and return to constitutional rule.
For his part, Goïta said the visit by the African Union Commission Chair underlined the organization’s solidarity with Mali. He expressed his country’s commitment to continuing cooperation with the Union on issues of common concern.
Mahamat’s meeting with Goïta followed earlier discussions with Mali’s foreign minister, Abdoulaye Diop, which covered bilateral relations and several shared priorities.
The visit comes after calls from the African Union’s Peace and Security Council to intensify high-level engagement with Malian authorities. At a meeting held on April 28, 2026, the council urged stepped-up diplomatic efforts with Bamako, focusing on political dialogue, restoring constitutional order, and establishing a clear timeline for completing the transition. The council also reiterated its support for Mali’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and called for greater technical and operational assistance to the security sector, especially in capacity building, early warning, and strategic consulting.
The African Union suspended Mali’s participation in its activities and bodies in June 2021 after General Assimi Goïta took charge of the transition, following the arrest of the previous transitional president Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane. The Peace and Security Council linked lifting the suspension to Mali’s return to constitutional order.