The junta-led state of Mali and the United States have, within the last few months, embarked on a campaign to strengthen their military ties.
This unlikely cooperation is a result of the terrorist threats prevalent in the Sahel region and the change in the U.S. administration.
Under America’s current president, Donald Trump, both countries have resolved to work together to face a threat they are all too familiar with, despite Mali being ruled by a junta government.
As seen in the Washington Post, U.S sources close to this development revealed that American intelligence has been vital in repelling the advancement of terrorist groups in West Africa.
Mali’s military has utilized information from the U.S to conduct strikes against extremist groups around its region.
“The administration is making it clear: We don’t believe it is for us to judge how you came into power,” said one of the former U.S. officials, who spoke to The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity.
“The message is … we are here if you are.”
Mali’s current administration, led by General Assimi Goïta, took power through successive coups in 2020 and 2021, removing the previous civilian-led government amid growing dissatisfaction and instability.
Mali, like fellow junta states Burkina Faso and Niger, decided after its successful coup to begin ridding itself of any Western influence.
The country wasted no time in expelling military forces belonging to its former colonial ruler, France, noting that the years of military cooperation had done very little to bring stability to the region.
Subsequent to the decision, the country pushed for a stronger relationship with Russia, sidelining most Western states in its affairs, including the United States.
The controversial deployment of Russian paramilitary forces, first through the Wagner Group and now through its successor, the Africa Corps, has supported the army’s counterinsurgency operations while eliciting criticism from Western governments and human rights organizations.
However, much like France, the use of Russian forces to assist in combating terrorism has not been as successful as originally envisioned.
The report by The Washington Post showed that last year, more than 10,000 people were killed by extremist organizations in the Sahel region.
Additionally, a study last month revealed how Russian private mercenary (Wagner) activities in Mali brought about deep divisions within the country’s army and transitional military administration, raising concerns about Moscow’s position in West Africa.
Different approaches between Biden and Trump
During the tenure of the previous U.S. President, Joe Biden, efforts to democratize the country were unsuccessful.
The administration not only failed to persuade Mali to enact democratic reforms, but it also imposed sanctions on several high-ranking officers for their collaboration with Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group.
Consequently, the relationship between the countries deteriorated.
However, under Donald Trump’s administration, discussions of collaboration have emerged, with reported developments regarding intelligence sharing.
In a July meeting with Malian authorities in Bamako, Trump’s deputy senior director for counterterrorism, Rudolph Atallah, told local media that the United States intended to back Mali in its fight against extremists if Mali was a cooperative partner.
Officials from both the US and Mali confirmed that Atallah presented a proposal, encompassing intelligence sharing, U.S. equipment, and training, in an effort to foster a partnership with Mali.
Current U.S. visits to Mali have been well-received, as Malian officials, including Moussa Ag Acharatoumane, a member of Mali’s transitional government, have indicated that U.S. officials “respected our sovereignty” and have not expressed concerns regarding the country’s close relationship with Russia.
“They recognize that we have the same enemy,” he added, referring to the extremists.
Biden “had a more traditional approach to U.S. norms and democracy in this part of the world,” said Franklin Nossiter, the International Crisis Group’s Sahel analyst. “With Trump, everything is on the table.”
