Senior U.S. Bureau of African Affairs Official Nick Checker is traveling to Bamako, Mali, to communicate Washington’s “respect for Mali’s sovereignty” and its desire to “chart a new course” in the bilateral relationship following past policy missteps.
Why Washington is Re-engaging Mali
U.S. re-engagement with Mali is driven by strategic economic and security interests, not a change in Washington’s position on military rule.
Mali is a leading gold producer in Africa and possesses reserves of lithium and uranium, making it central to the global competition for critical minerals.
Security concerns are also a key factor. Mali is located within the Sahel region, which has implications for U.S. counterterrorism operations in West Africa. Despite the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Mali in 2022, American intelligence networks continue to monitor militant activity in the region.
Mali’s location connects instability in Burkina Faso and Niger to northern Nigeria, where U.S.-backed intelligence cooperation supports efforts to track and disrupt extremist groups.
Engagement with Bamako supports Washington’s broader Sahel security strategy, and does not indicate approval of military governance.
This move also reflects a broader U.S. effort to regain strategic influence in Africa after aid cuts during the Trump administration created opportunities for rival powers with fewer political conditions.
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