Mali has officially withdrawn its recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and announced its support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, in a significant diplomatic shift that strengthens ties between Bamako and Rabat. The announcement came following a meeting between Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop and his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita in Bamako on April 9, 2026.
The Malian government's decision represents a notable realignment in the long-standing dispute over Western Sahara, a territory that Morocco controls in large part and considers its Southern Provinces. Morocco has long proposed a plan granting Western Sahara broad autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as a political solution to the conflict, a proposal that has gained increasing international support in recent years.
Mali's move adds to a growing list of African and international nations that have shifted their positions in favor of Morocco's autonomy initiative. The decision is expected to further isolate the Polisario Front, the Sahrawi independence movement backed by Algeria, which has long sought full independence for Western Sahara and the establishment of the SADR as a sovereign state.
The meeting between Ministers Diop and Bourita also covered broader bilateral cooperation between Mali and Morocco, reflecting the two countries' efforts to deepen their diplomatic and economic relationship. Morocco has been actively strengthening ties across Africa as part of its foreign policy strategy, and Mali's recognition shift marks a significant diplomatic win for Rabat in the region.
