The United States is nearing an agreement with Mali to restart intelligence-gathering operations in the country after several years of strained diplomatic relations, U.S. officials told international media outlets.
Washington is seeking permission to operate aircraft and drones over Malian territory to monitor jihadist groups linked to Al‑Qaeda, particularly Jama’at Nusrat al‑Islam wal‑Muslimin (JNIM), whose influence has expanded across the Sahel in recent years.
In a first concrete step toward improving relations, Washington lifted sanctions on February 27 against Mali’s defense minister and other senior officials who had been accused of maintaining ties with the Wagner Group.
The update published by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control did not explain the reason for the decision, but authorities in Bamako welcomed the move, describing it as progress toward better bilateral relations while respecting national sovereignty, as seen on Ecofin Agency.
The U.S. special envoy for Africa, Nick Checker, also traveled to Mali last month and met with Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop. According to the U.S. State Department, the visit aimed to “chart a new path” in relations between the two countries.
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Beyond regional security concerns, the potential resumption of intelligence missions is also linked to the case of an American pilot kidnapped in Niger and now believed to be held in Mali by JNIM, according to the conflict monitoring group Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). The group frequently targets foreign nationals to finance its activities.
The shifting political landscape in the Sahel has also influenced Washington’s approach. The administration of Donald Trump has largely moved away from the previous U.S. policy of promoting democratic governance in the region, where several elected governments have been overthrown by military coups in recent years. Authorities in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have welcomed this change.
However, relations remain fragile. In December, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso introduced reciprocal measures in response to U.S. travel restrictions, highlighting the uncertain nature of Washington’s evolving ties with its former Sahel partners.
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Image Credit: Vanguard
