Mali Withdraws Recognition of the Polisario Front
On Friday, April 10, Mali announced that it would withdraw its recognition of the “Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic,” a puppet entity of the Polisario Front. This decision followed a meeting in Bamako between Mali’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdoulaye Diop, and his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, who was visiting the Malian capital. This marks a significant shift in the African dimension of the Sahara issue.
The Malian government stated that “after an in-depth analysis of this critical Sahara issue, which has repercussions on regional peace and security, Mali has decided today to withdraw its recognition of the ‘Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.'” This announcement was made by Abdoulaye Diop following the discussions.
