Egypt's newly appointed ambassador to Bamako, Mohamed El-Gamal, during a meeting with Mali's Minister of Justice, Mamadou Kassogué, on September 17, stated that Egypt remains committed to combating terrorism in the Sahel nation. The Malian government reported this on its official website.
Minister Kassogué congratulated the diplomat on his appointment and wished him success in his mission. He praised the high level of relations between Mali and Egypt, highlighting their multifaceted cooperation and "shared commitment to the ideals of African solidarity."
"Mohamed El-Gamal reaffirmed his country's commitment to strengthening partnership in vital areas such as the fight against terrorism and extremism, healthcare, education and higher education, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, industry, culture, as well as cooperation in the religious sphere," the statement read.
Kassogué also emphasized the significance of Cairo's support for strengthening Mali's socio-economic and institutional development. He assured the ambassador of his ministry's readiness to work jointly with the Egyptian diplomatic mission to strengthen and diversify cooperation.
In a related development on September 17, the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) escorted a convoy of 30 fuel trucks from Senegal to Bamako. The convoy had been blocked for several days in the Malian town of Soribugu and was only able to proceed under FAMa protection. The military stated that the mission was to deliver fuel and other equipment to Bamako.
For over a decade, affiliates of the Islamic State* and Al-Qaeda* have been operating in the region, destabilizing the situation in Mali and its neighbors Burkina Faso and Niger. Militants established a foothold in northern Mali following a separatist Tuareg rebellion in 2012. Since then, Islamist militants have spread to other countries across the Sahel.
*Terrorist organizations banned in the Russian Federation
Alexander Kholodov
This response is AI-generated, for reference only.
