Morocco and Mali deepen strategic partnership with new accords, training complex handover and support for autonomy plan
From July 21‑24 2026 the fourth session of the Morocco‑Mali Joint Cooperation Commission met in Bamako, co‑chaired by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop. The meeting concluded with the signing of 21 bilateral agreements covering energy, health, agriculture, higher education, trade, transport and security, and set the stage for a business forum and an economic week in Morocco.
The joint statement also reaffirmed Mali’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, describing it as “the only credible and realistic solution” in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2797 and the UN Secretary‑General’s efforts. This follows Mali’s April 2026 withdrawal of recognition of the self‑proclaimed Sahrawi Republic.
In parallel, Morocco handed over the Mohammed VI Vocational Training Complex to Malian authorities. The 5,200 m² facility in Bamako will train up to 1,000 young people annually in construction, public works, hospitality, tourism and food‑service, part of King Mohammed VI’s South‑South cooperation initiative.
Together these actions underscore a renewed momentum in the Morocco‑Mali strategic partnership, combining political alignment on the Western Sahara issue with concrete economic and human‑capital projects.