Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko paid a working visit to Mali following his attendance at the swearing-in ceremony of Rwandan President Paul Kagame the previous day.
Upon arrival, Sonko was received by his Malian counterpart, Prime Minister Choguel Maïga, before meeting with President Assimi Goïta.
During their discussions, Sonko reiterated his opposition to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)’s proposed intervention in Niger following the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum’s regime in July 2023.
He emphasized the importance of respecting the sovereignty of each nation and called for unity within the region.
Acknowledging past missteps by ECOWAS, Sonko stated, “It is essential to operate within robust frameworks rather than fragment our region.” He further stressed the need to bridge differences, asserting that “any Pan-Africanist must have the sole objective of bringing Africans together beyond our differences.” Citing Europe’s history, he highlighted that reconciliation after major conflicts is achievable.
It’s noteworthy that Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger announced their withdrawal from ECOWAS last January, accusing the organization of being “instrumentalized” by foreign powers.
These three nations have since formed the Confederation of Sahel States (AES). Despite this, Senegal, under the leadership of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who has been appointed as a facilitator in the ongoing crisis, remains hopeful about reconciling the involved parties.
Report by Aminata Fall
