Backgrounder - Bilateral Relations

Mali is one of Canada's main partners in Africa and within La Francophonie. Canada and Mali established diplomatic relations in 1969 and continue to maintain a strong bilateral relationship almost half a century later. Canada and Mali work closely together on supporting sustainable peace,  development cooperation,  encouraging democratic development and good governance in the country. Although Canada and Mali have modest trade relations (totaling $28.7 million in bilateral trade for 2017), Canadian assets in the mining sector reached $1.54 billion in 2016. A Foreign Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (FIPA) has also been in force since 2016.

Crisis in Mali

Mali is facing serious governance, security,  development and humanitarian challenges stretching across its territory. It is one of the least developed and most fragile countries in the world, ranked amongst the bottom 15 states according to the 2016 Human Development Index, and the bottom 31 states on the Fragile States Index. Women and girls are amongst the most vulnerable to insecurity and conflict in Mali and the most affected by gender-based violence. The UNDP Gender Inequality Index ranked Mali 156 out of 188 countries in 2016.

The current crisis in Mali was set in motion by a series of events starting with the return to the country in 2011 of Tuareg fighters that had fought for Muammar Qaddafi in Libya, leading to the 2012 civil war in northern Mali between the government and the Tuareg Mouvement national pour la libération de l’Azawad (MNLA); and a military coup after these rebels routed the Malian army. In December 2012, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) authorized the deployment of the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) and was converted to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in April 2013. MINUSMA’s  strategic priority is to support the implementation of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement, signed in 2015 by the Malian government and the two main coalitions of armed groups. In parallel,  at the invitation of the Malian government, France launched a counter-terrorism operation (Serval) in 2013. In August 2014, France renamed the operation “Barkhane” and expanded it to the five Sahel countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger) in August 2014.(In early 2017, the G5 Sahel countries announced plans to form a regional joint force to complement MINUSMA and the French coutner-terrorism operations  in border areas. The UNSC welcomed the creation of the G5 Sahel Joint Force in July 2017 and requested MINUSMA to provide operational and logistical support to the Joint Force in December 2017.

While core grievances of antagonists remain rooted in longstanding issues such as political and economic marginalization, day-to-day conflict dynamics are becoming more complex and fluid as violent extremists, traffickers and organized crime networks embed themselves in areas of the north, centre and neighboring countries. Inter-communal violence and human rights abuses by state and non-state security forces have added to this toxic mix.

Canada’s Response

Canada recognizes that the surest way to achieve a lasting and durable peace in Mali is via a broad-based, inclusive political process. To that end, Canada is working in conjunction with the Government of Mali, the United Nations and other stakeholders to set political conditions in Mali and the wider region for the successful implementation of the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali (also known as the Algiers Accord).

To achieve this aim, Canada is pursuing three major lines of effort in the peace and stabilization domain: support for the implementation of the Algiers Accord; support for and enabling of MINUSMA in the execution of its mandate; and, building local and regional capacities to confront terrorism and violent extemism. These efforts complement and reinforce Canada’s broader commitment to enhance the effectiveness of UN peace operations.

As part of this effort, Canada’s Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs) has invested more than $30M over the 2016-2019 period (both bilaterally and through UN channels). PSOPs programs are helping to foster trust and confidence amongst the parties to the Algiers Accord, promoting the participation of women and girls in the implementation of the peace process, protecting and promoting human rights, supporting UN-led peacebuilding and stabilization efforts, fostering dialogue between conflict-affected communities and Malian authorities, and enabling a more inclusive and participatory political process.

To help building a more united and peaceful nation, with strong foundations for prosperity and enhanced quality of life for all, Canada is also an important supporter of inclusive governance. For example, through its development assistance program, Canada supports the implementation of public reforms, tax collection and strengthening the role of civil society, including women’s participation in decision-making processes.