Mali has reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Sahara, describing Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the “only credible and realistic solution” to the long-running regional dispute.

The position was contained in a Joint Communiqué issued at the end of the 4th High-Level Joint Commission on Morocco-Mali Cooperation, which concluded on Friday in Bamako.

The meeting was co-chaired by Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and Mali’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdoulaye Diop.

According to the communiqué, Mali reiterated its “position in favour of Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its entire territory, including the Sahara region.”

It also reaffirmed support for “the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, as well as for the Autonomy Plan presented by the Kingdom of Morocco, as the only credible and realistic solution for resolving this regional dispute, in accordance with Resolution 2797 adopted on October 31, 2025, by the United Nations Security Council.”

The latest declaration follows Mali’s April 10, 2026 decision to officially withdraw its recognition of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), marking a significant shift in the country’s position on the Sahara issue.

The 4th session of the Morocco-Mali Joint Cooperation Commission was held in Bamako from July 21 to July 24 and focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries across various sectors.