The United States and Mali are moving to restore key elements of their security partnership, following a high-level visit by White House counterterrorism official Rudolph Atallah to Bamako this week.
Atallah, Principal Deputy Director for Counterterrorism at the White House National Security Council, arrived in the Malian capital on July 8 for a three-day mission aimed at rebooting cooperation amid escalating jihadist violence in the Sahel.
He was joined by U.S. Ambassador to Mali, Rachna Sachdeva Korhonen, for meetings with top Malian officials, including Foreign Affairs Minister Abdoulaye Diop and the Minister of Security.
“This mission is part of a political dialogue aimed at renewing renewed and constructive cooperation,” the Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
The talks, held on July 9, focused on the evolving security situation in Mali and the broader Sahel region. Discussions covered the ongoing transition of defense responsibilities to Malian authorities, as well as efforts to enhance the operational capabilities of the country’s security forces.
Particular emphasis was placed on the role of the newly formed Confederation of Sahel States (AES) in counterterrorism efforts.
Malian officials also raised concerns about reports of foreign support to armed groups operating in the region and called for a “sincere and comprehensive” approach to combating terrorism.
At a press conference hosted at the U.S.
Embassy in Bamako, Atallah reiterated Washington’s commitment to Mali as a regional security partner. “The terrorist threat remains high, and Mali is particularly exposed,” he said.
“This justifies the urgent need to build local capacity.”
Asked about Mali’s growing relationship with Russia, Atallah responded diplomatically: “The choice of alliances is a matter of Mali’s sovereignty. The United States stands ready to assist if Mali so desires.”
He also stressed that national reconciliation is key to long-term stability and would create conditions conducive to investment and economic development.
Atallah’s visit comes amid cautious signs of a thaw in bilateral defense relations. In February 2025, Malian and U.S. military officials held their first formal meeting in five years. Mali is also a participant in regional counterterrorism programmes backed by Washington, including Juniper Shield and Obsidian Mosaic.
These initiatives had been paused following Mali’s 2021 military coup but are now slowly being revived.
Following the latest round of talks, both sides pledged to maintain regular dialogue and explore “pragmatic and mutually beneficial” avenues of cooperation, while emphasizing respect for Mali’s national sovereignty.
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