The military government of Mali has officially withdrawn its recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), the Polisario Front's declared state in Western Sahara. The decision was announced by Mali's foreign ministry on April 11, 2026, following a meeting between Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop and his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, in Rabat.
In a statement, the Malian ministry cited the principle of "African solidarity" and the need for a realistic political solution to the long-standing territorial dispute. The move represents a significant diplomatic victory for Morocco, which claims sovereignty over the entire Western Sahara territory and has been campaigning internationally to gain recognition for its autonomy plan for the region.
The Polisario Front, which seeks independence for Western Sahara, condemned the decision. The conflict over the territory, a former Spanish colony, has persisted for decades. Mali had recognized the SADR in the early 1980s. This reversal leaves the SADR with reduced diplomatic recognition in Africa, following similar moves by other nations in recent years under Moroccan diplomatic pressure.
The United Nations continues to list Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory and has been facilitating negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front, though the peace process has been stalled for years. The Malian government's statement expressed support for UN-led efforts to find a mutually acceptable political solution.
