Kinshasa, May 10th, 2026 (CPA).- The Malian government has excluded any negotiations with armed terrorist groups, accusing them of being responsible for the recurring violence suffered by the population over the past several years, international media have reported on Sunday. ‘The government does not envisage any dialogue with lawless armed terrorist groups,’ has declared Abdoulaye Diop, Mali’s Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs, accusing ‘them of being responsible for the recurring violence suffered by the Malian people for several years’. The Malian Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed the transitional authorities’ openness to dialogue solely within the republican framework. Abdoulaye Diop has drawn a clear distinction between political dialogue and compromise with terrorist groups, in a context marked by the attacks of April 25th which have caused significant losses, including the death of the Minister in charge of Defence, Sadio Camara.
This position is aimed in particular at the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), affiliated with Al-Qaeda and included on the UN Security Council sanctions list since October 2018, in accordance with Resolution 2368. The minister has also singled out the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), arguing that its alliance with JNIM amounts to a deliberate choice to support a terrorist organisation recognised as such by the United Nations, which effectively excludes it from any framework for discussion. He has reminded that this movement claims, in particular, responsibility for armed actions in the north of the country, including the recapture of Kidal and coordinated attacks in Gao. Despite this firm stance, the Malian authorities remain open to political dialogue with actors operating within an institutional framework. Abdoulaye Diop has highlighted the continuation of mechanisms such as the National Reconciliation Agreements (ANR) and the Inter-Malian Dialogue (DIM), presented as the only legitimate platforms for consultation. He has also indicated that combatants who have renounced armed struggle continue to be integrated into the republican framework, as part of a process of disengagement and reintegration. On a strategic level, the Malian Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs has emphasised on the need for a comprehensive response to the security crisis. In his view, the fight against terrorism cannot be solely military and must incorporate geopolitical, social and development dimensions. Diop has reaffirmed Mali’s determination to pursue the objective of eradicating terrorism on its territory as well as within the Sahel States Alliance (AES) Confederation, in cooperation with Burkina Faso, Niger and the Russian Federation. ACP/