U.S. Envoy Visits Mali to Reset Ties With Sahel States

The newly appointed head of the U.S. State Department's Bureau of African Affairs, Nick Checker, has visited Mali to revitalize bilateral cooperation with Bamako. The visit is reportedly based on "new foundations, mutual respect, and the absence of any form of interference".

The State Department has announced that it also plans to consult with the governments of Burkina Faso and Niger regarding shared security and economic interests. Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, who welcomed the U.S. diplomat, said no official statement would be issued. The visit, however, comes as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has pivoted toward a "trade, not aid" foreign policy approach.

All three Sahelian nations are mineral-rich, with substantial reserves of gold, lithium, and uranium. Diplomatic sources note that the United States is closely monitoring how jihadists are establishing themselves in the region and aims to prevent further escalation. Checker's visit follows a period in which Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger cultivated closer ties with Russia and formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) after cutting ties with Western partners.

InFocus

InFocus

Heads of state of Mali's Assimi Goita, Niger's General Abdourahamane Tiani and Burkina Faso's Captain Ibrahim Traore pose for photographs during the first ordinary summit of heads of state and governments of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in Niamey, Niger July 6, 2024.

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