Mali has formally withdrawn from the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), aligning with Niger and Burkina Faso in a coordinated move to sever ties with Western-backed institutions.
This announcement follows separate statements from Niger and Burkina Faso a day earlier, confirming their withdrawal from the French-speaking bloc.
A joint statement by the three nations’ foreign ministers accused the OIF of being a “remote-controlled political instrument” that imposes “selective sanctions” based on geopolitical interests while disregarding their sovereignty.
The move is part of a realignment by the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), which was formed by the three military-led nations in September 2023.
The bloc has systematically distanced itself from post-colonial institutions, including its official departure from ECOWAS on January 29, 2024.
Mali’s leader, General Assimi Goïta, along with General Abdourahamane Tiani of Niger and Captain Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso, justified their decision as reflecting the “deep aspirations of their peoples.”