Mali’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdoulaye Diop, was welcomed on Tuesday by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in the capital Caracas, as part of an official diplomatic mission focused on deepening political consultation between the two nations.
During the audience held on 5 August 2025, Minister Diop conveyed a personal message and warm greetings from Mali’s transitional president, General Assimi Goïta. The visit formed a key part of the Mali-Venezuela political consultation mechanism aimed at expanding bilateral relations.
President Maduro responded enthusiastically, expressing his satisfaction with the state of cooperation between Mali and Venezuela.
He welcomed the proposal to host the Mali-Venezuela Joint Commission in 2026, an event that will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
On regional matters, the Venezuelan leader reiterated his country’s firm support for the Sahel States Confederation (AES), which includes Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
He voiced strong solidarity with AES leaders and citizens, acknowledging their struggle for sovereignty, their resistance to terrorism, and their opposition to what he described as neo-colonial ambitions.
“I express my solidarity with the leaders and peoples of the AES in their fight for sovereignty and against terrorism and neo-colonial domination,” said President Maduro.
At the global level, Maduro emphasized the shared vision between Venezuela and Mali regarding the need to enhance multilateralism and democratize international relations.
He called for a more balanced global governance system suited to a multipolar world order.
The Venezuelan president also took the opportunity to denounce unilateral sanctions and coercive measures imposed by what he referred to as “imperialist powers.”
The visit underscores a growing alignment between Latin American and Sahelian states seeking to reshape global alliances and push for a more equitable international system.
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