Nigeria and Mali have agreed to convene a Joint Commission to revive dormant bilateral agreements and strengthen cooperation between the two countries.
The decision was reached during a courtesy visit by Mali’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Oumar Coulibaly, to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, at Tafawa Balewa House in Abuja.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Dr Magnus Eze.
Speaking during the meeting, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria and Mali had enjoyed longstanding cordial relations, stressing that the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from the regional bloc would not undermine the ties between the two countries.
She emphasised the need for closer military cooperation to address the growing security challenges in the Sahel, particularly terrorism and banditry.
The minister said the proposed Joint Commission would provide an opportunity to review and reactivate existing agreements while deepening bilateral collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
In his remarks, Ambassador Coulibaly described Nigeria as a “big brother” to Mali and called for stronger bilateral engagement despite challenges at the regional level.
He said that while there might be differences within the region, Nigeria and Mali, as African nations, should continue to strengthen their relationship and work together on shared priorities.
Coulibaly also called for political dialogue between both countries ahead of the proposed Joint Commission.
