Algerian-Malian Relations Evolving Toward A New Dynamic

The President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, received on Monday the Prime Minister and Head of Government of the Republic of Mali, Abdoulaye Maïga, at the head of a significant delegation, in the presence of Brahim Merad, Minister of State, in charge of the General Inspectorate of State Services and Local Communities, Ahmed Attaf, Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs, Amar Abba, Advisor to the President of the Republic, in charge of Diplomatic Affairs, Brigadier General Moussaoui Rochdi Fethi, Director General of Documentation and External Security, and His Excellency the Ambassador of Algeria to the Republic of Mali, Kamel Retieb.

In this context, Algerian-Malian relations are moving toward a new dynamic, reflecting the keenness of the two brotherly countries to build a partnership based on solid foundations that benefit both peoples, a choice based on a deep-rooted historical legacy and ties of brotherhood and solidarity that have always united both parties.

In this regard, the shared will of the leaderships of the two neighboring countries stands out in strengthening cooperation and partnership, and moving them to broader horizons by maintaining communication channels and overcoming obstacles, an approach based on the logic of dialogue and the principles of solidarity and good neighborliness, aiming to achieve mutual interests and face the challenges witnessed in the Sahel region.

From this perspective comes the working visit of Abdoulaye Maïga to Algeria, just two weeks after the phone call he had with the Prime Minister, Sifi Ghreib, commissioned by the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, during which an official invitation was extended to him to pay a working visit to Algeria.

During this phone call, both parties renewed their “commitment to the relations of brotherhood, solidarity, and good neighborliness that unite the two brotherly peoples,” and expressed the “will of the two countries’ leaders to instill a new dynamic into bilateral relations and relaunch cooperation in various fields.”

This step reflects Algeria’s keenness and commitment to safeguarding its relations with this neighboring and brotherly country, keeping them away from all disputes through reconciliation, as the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, ordered last July the return of Mr. Kamel Retieb to Bamako as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to the Republic of Mali, in a decision that reflects his constant and firm keenness to return Algerian-Malian relations to their “historical and natural” path, based on mutual respect and commitment to establishing relations of brotherhood and cooperation that serve the interests of both countries, their peoples, all countries of the Sahel-Saharan region, and the entire African continent.

This decision followed the return of the Ambassador of the Republic of Mali to Algeria and the reopening of its airspace to flights coming from or heading to Algeria.

Within the same endeavor, both sides are working to support coordination methods and activate bilateral mechanisms related to various areas of cooperation, especially those that serve their common interests.

The continuous efforts to re-launch Algerian-Malian cooperation mechanisms embody the vision of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, aimed at strengthening Algeria’s African dimension, emphasizing on more than one occasion that “Algeria has always been a brotherly country to Mali.”

The statement of the President of the Republic clearly expresses Algeria’s firm position supporting Mali, its people, and its institutions, as Algeria continues its diplomatic efforts in strengthening security coordination with the Malian side, away from all forms of interference in the internal affairs of this neighboring country, embodying the established doctrine of the Algerian state.

The objective of strengthening security coordination between the two countries remains linked to confronting the phenomenon of terrorism in the Sahel region and defeating extremism and transnational organized crime, while looking forward to developing economic and commercial relations by creating a suitable environment that allows for the promotion of cross-border and developmental cooperation for the continent.