Abdoulaye Diop, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Mali, addresses the General Debate of the 81st Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, 22–26 and 28 September 2026).
I now give the floor to His Excellency Abdoulaye Diop, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Mali.
Mr. President of the General Assembly, your excellencies, heads of state and government, Mr. Secretary General, ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor for me to address this August assembly on behalf of His Excellency General Assimi Goïta, President of the Transition and Head of State, and to deliver the statement of the Republic of Mali.
Critique of Multilateralism
For its part, Mali reaffirms its unwavering commitment to reformed multilateralism founded on strict respect for the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, particularly sovereign equality, territorial integrity, non-use of force, mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of a state. The further we move away from these principles, the closer we come to cycles of conflict.
We therefore call for the lifting of unilateral coercive measures which undermine state sovereignty and endanger the well-being of populations in approximately 30 countries throughout the world which are affected by such sanctions.
To these practices which undermine the current governance, we need to add the slowness of anticipation within the United Nations, which too often leaves the organization reduced to observing crises after they have erupted. That's the case in Israel, where for several decades we had a security crisis, also the crisis in Libya provoked by the NATO interference in 2011. The NATO action in Libya significantly worsened the security, political, humanitarian and human rights situation in our region, through in particular the spread of terrorism and violent extremism.
The government of Mali reiterates its strong condemnation of international terrorism and its foreign state sponsors who finance, arm, provide logistical support and intelligence to this organized transnational crime.
Security in the Sahel
Following Ukraine's initial statement in 2024 in which it acknowledged support for terrorist groups operating in the Sahel, that country publicly reiterated at the highest level of state its interference in Africa and beyond our states. Other independent sources also corroborate these unacceptable actions by Ukraine. Here we have a country which claims to be protecting its territorial integrity, whereas in Africa it provides clear support to terrorist groups and other harmful groups which undermine the territorial integrity of our countries.
Given our history, the international community, in particular Africa, cannot just remain silent in the face of what was being done by Ukraine. It has enormous consequences for African countries and it goes beyond that. We understand very well that Ukraine is just a visible part of the iceberg which is trying to destabilize our country, to break our determination to throw off the colonial yoke.
Terrorism which is nurtured and supported from outside does it in three ways. First, in the armed way — we know that it's attacking civilian populations. It's a security crisis. In the economic way which impacts our countries. And through the media, notably through organized and systematic disinformation campaigns, certain media outlets nostalgic for the colonial past play a role in these.
Partnerships and Defense
Malian forces, on their own and also within the AES unified force and with the support of the Russian Federation, are today on the front line against imposed terrorism. I would even go so far as to say it is a hybrid war by proxy whose implications extend beyond our region. I also salute all partners who continue to support Mali and the countries of the Sahel in this difficult context.
Victory against terrorism, this global existential threat, requires pooling efforts and resources, but above all, it requires a shared understanding of the phenomenon of terrorism itself.
Because contrary to what some would have us believe, there is no such thing as a good terrorist and a bad terrorist.
Sovereignty and Development
Mali's sovereignty is very precious to us and it is not negotiable. Sovereignty is not limited to defending our territory. It also means we are controlling our economic choices, that we are managing and developing our natural resources, mining resources, our gold and lithium, strengthening our productive sectors and also creating greater opportunities for our youth. And in this spirit, the government remains committed to implementing the Mali-Kura 2063 vision and the National Strategy for Emergence and Sustainable Development 2024–2033. These two ambitious programs are designed to meet the legitimate aspirations of the people and they constitute a generational pact, and it shows our determination to build a sovereign state, a competitive economy, a just society, a country in which every citizen can thrive with dignity.
Global and Emerging Issues
Now, regional and international issues. The government remains attentive to developments across Africa and around the world, and we therefore encourage efforts aimed at the rapid and lasting resolution of conflicts on the African continent.Regarding the situation in the Middle East, Mali reaffirms its full support for the brotherly Palestinian people and their legitimate struggle to exist as a fully recognized state.
Mr. President, the international situation is such that we have to acknowledge the international order is undergoing profound change, and the longer we ignore it, the less we will be able to adjust to it. The question is no longer whether the world is moving towards multipolarity, but rather which actors will shape this new order and how will they cooperate to meet the aspirations of people throughout the planet we share.
Our objective here is strategic autonomy for Mali, strategic autonomy for the Confederation of Sahel States, strategic autonomy for Africa in both security and development areas. And this autonomy does not mean a rupture; rather, it seeks to make Africa into a credible and indispensable partner for global stability and prosperity.