On the diplomatic front, the European Union’s Special Representative for the Sahel, João Gomes Cravinho, is visiting Mali to advance renewed engagement with the region.

The envoy arrived in Bamako on Tuesday to present a new cooperation strategy targeting the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) region. The initiative seeks to revitalise dialogue between the EU and countries in the central Sahel, amid evolving political and security dynamics.

At the heart of the visit is what Brussels describes as a “New Approach” designed to strengthen communication and recalibrate relations with Sahelian governments.

The visit comes as Mali continues to diversify its international partnerships, including renewed bilateral engagements with Western countries such as the United States, whose envoy recently held talks in Bamako.