Mali’s head of state Assimi Goita welcomed Sudan’s military leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Bamako on Saturday, seeking to build connections between two countries dealing with armed conflicts at home.
The meeting comes as both countries work to change their international partnerships and handle internal battles in the Sahel – a region once colonised by France as French Sudan.
Military Gains Bolsters Diplomatic Push
The timing of this diplomatic push holds particular weight. The Sudanese army had just retaken control of Wad Madani, an agricultural centre 200 kilometres southeast of Khartoum, from the Rapid Support Forces. The city sits at the heart of Sudan’s most productive farming region, making it central to the country’s food supply.
RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo acknowledged the setback: “Today we lost a round, but we are not losing the war.”
The army’s control of Wad Madani could help restart farming in Sudan’s agricultural heartland, where the RSF had blocked most cultivation. This matters for the 26 million Sudanese who cannot get enough food. The city also controls supply routes to several states, including Sennar, Blue Nile, and White Nile, making it valuable for moving goods and military supplies.
New Partnerships in the Sahel
Mali, along with Burkina Faso and Niger, recently created the Alliance of Sahel States after ending their military partnerships with France. Both Sudan and Mali have built closer ties with Russia while moving away from Western partners. This shared outlook has made it easier for them to work together.
During his two-day visit, al-Burhan spoke about shared concerns: “We are two brother countries living in troubled regions.”
The leaders agreed to set up joint committees for education, agriculture and industry. They talked about working together to fight armed groups, as Mali battles insurgents while the Sudanese army continues its war against the RSF.
Al-Burhan called for African countries to solve their own problems, saying both countries must stand against “colonial powers working to fuel conflicts on the African continent.”
This message fits with both countries’ recent moves to cut military ties with Western powers and seek new partnerships.
Practical Limits Test New Partnership
The distance between Sudan and Mali makes military cooperation difficult. Relations are further complicated with Chad, the neighbouring country that could potentially link the Sahel alliance and Sudan. Mali continues to fight armed groups in its northern areas, while Sudan’s army, despite taking back Wad Madani, has not dislodged the RSF from much of Darfur and southern Sudan.
The war in Sudan has forced more than 12 million people from their homes, creating one of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises. Aid organisations have not been able to meet the needs of those affected. The conflict has made it hard to deliver food, medicine, and other basic supplies to many parts of the country.
While the partnership may begin loosely, it could prove valuable on the diplomatic front. Building a bloc around shared interests and struggles could help both Mali and Sudan amplify their voice in regional affairs.
