After years of diplomatic freeze and media sparring, Côte d'Ivoire seems determined to break the ice with the countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) . A symbol of this charm offensive: Deputy Minister Adama Dosso is expected in Bamako in April 2026.

A desire for normalization

President Alassane Ouattara is changing his approach. After dispatching Adama Dosso to Ouagadougou last December to meet with his Burkinabe counterpart, the Ivorian government is now targeting Mali. This official visit has a clear objective: to normalize bilateral relations and re-establish a direct channel of communication with the regime of Assimi Goïta.

A look back at a tumultuous past

Relations between Abidjan and Bamako have been marked by a series of deep crises since the coups of 2020 and 2021:

1. The political disagreement: Faithful to the ECOWAS line, Alassane Ouattara firmly condemned the armed takeovers in Mali.
2. The case of the 49 soldiers: In 2022, the arrest of Ivorian soldiers in Bamako — accused of mercenary work by Mali but presented as supporters of MINUSMA by Abidjan — brought the two countries to the brink of rupture.
3. The outcome: Despite being sentenced to 20 years in prison, these soldiers were finally pardoned by Colonel Goïta, thanks to active mediation by Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé.

The Gassama affair: The latest point of contention

More recently, the arrest in Abidjan of Mamadou Hawa Gassama , a prominent figure in Mali's transition, reignited tensions. Convicted of "insulting the head of state" following viral remarks against Alassane Ouattara, he was ultimately released in February 2026 after a presidential pardon.

This gesture of clemency from Abidjan seems to have paved the way for the April visit, marking a common desire to turn the page on provocations and prioritize regional stability.

The stakes are now high: to see if this mission to Bamako will allow a lasting reintegration of dialogue within a sub-region undergoing profound geopolitical change.