A new chapter in Rabat-Bamako relations seems imminent, as Mali's transitional president, Colonel Assimi Goïta, appointed Fafre Camara as the republic's new ambassador to Morocco. This strategic move follows a recent warming of ties, marked by Mali joining the King's initiative for Sahelian access to the Atlantic.
In his directive, Goïta emphasized the importance of fostering «dynamic relations based on over sixty existing cooperation agreements» and stressed the «urgency of resuming the Mali-Morocco joint commission». This body, previously suspended, served as a key platform for bilateral collaboration.
Camara's appointment comes amidst a perceptible thaw in Moroccan-Malian relations. Notably, Mali's December 2023 accession to the Atlantic initiative, championed by King Mohammed VI, solidified this rapprochement, much to Algeria's chagrin.
It's worth recalling the two royal visits to Mali in 2013 and 2014, which yielded 17 cooperation agreements. Furthermore, a 2021 meeting between foreign ministers Bourita and Diop aimed to revitalize all collaborative mechanisms, including sectoral commissions and policy dialogue.