Mali has finally severed ties with the Polisario. This decision rewards a Moroccan strategy rooted in patience. The Malian example confirms the benefits of a policy that Rabat has already tested with Zambia and Ghana. DR ‹ › After 46 years of recognition, Mali has officially decided to sever its ties with the self-proclaimed «Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic» (SADR). The move marks a significant setback for the Polisario, which has been marking the fiftieth anniversary of this entity since April 8 in Algeria. Announced on Friday by Bamako, the decision once again underscores the effectiveness of Rabat's long-term strategy toward African countries that recognized the «SADR» during the Cold War. Morocco has favored a gradual approach, focusing on strengthening political, economic, cultural, and military ties without pressuring these states to immediately withdraw their recognition. With Mali, this policy of rapprochement dates back to 2013, when King Mohammed VI visited the country to attend the inauguration of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. That visit, marked by a strong speech, laid the foundations for a lasting partnership. Between 2013 and the August 2020 coup, Rabat, despite being sidelined by France and Algeria in the peace negotiations that led to the Algiers Accords of May 2015, maintained a measured stance while honoring its commitments. At the same time, Morocco sent subtle signals to the civilian authorities, notably when the king canceled a planned visit to inaugurate a clinic fully funded by the kingdom. The opening of the Mohammed VI Perinatal Clinic was ultimately carried out by the sovereign's private secretary and the CEO of the OCP Group. Morocco reaps the benefits of its policy After the military returned to power in 2020, Morocco remained consistent in its diplomatic approach, maintaining dialogue and cooperation without condemning the coup. Even after Bamako withdrew in January 2024 from the Algiers Accords and other peace frameworks negotiated under Algerian mediation, and joined in December 2023 the royal initiative granting Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean, Rabat continued to deepen bilateral ties without demanding a break with the Polisario. Today, this strategy appears to be paying off. Following Zambia and Ghana, Mali's decision reinforces the effectiveness of an approach based on patience and pragmatism. Other African countries, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Angola, Rwanda, and Nigeria, may also reconsider positions adopted during the Cold War. At the latest African Union summit in February in Addis Ababa, several of these states resisted pressure aimed at countering Morocco's candidacy for the Peace and Security Council. In the history of Morocco-Africa relations, Mali remains something of an exception. Under President Moussa Traoré (1968–1991), Bamako recognized the «SADR» in 1980, yet King Hassan II did not immediately sever diplomatic ties, unlike in other cases, such as India in 1985 or the former Yugoslavia in 1984.
