Described as a "year of trial and truth" in light of recurring terrorist attacks and the recent fuel crisis, 2025 has not been an easy year for Malian President General Assimi Goïta. In his address to the nation on December 31, 2025, he paid tribute to the memory of the civilians and soldiers who had fallen, while praising the resilience shown so far by the Malian people and commending the efforts of the FAMA in the fight against terrorism. He also promised to adopt a Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation and to continue the DDRI (disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, and integration) program in line with the peace process.

"Sovereignty, the choice of partners, and the defense of Malian interests" are now the three constitutional foundations governing Malian diplomacy. This, at least, was the message conveyed by the President of the Malian transition during his meeting with Mali's new ambassador to Geneva. The latter, Mr. Sékou dit Gaoussou Cissé, was keen to stress the importance of good communication about the realities of the country in order to reassure bilateral and multilateral partners.

With this in mind, and following the visa restrictions announced by Washington on its nationals, Mali has decided to apply reciprocity by imposing visas on American nationals, with a few exceptions. The Trump administration justifies these restrictions on the grounds of security requirements and deficiencies in migration policy.

While the new year 2026 seems to herald a lull in relations between Algeria and Mali, President Tebboune's speech to both houses of Parliament seems to have reignited tensions and contributed to a deterioration in relations between the two countries. In his speech, Tebboune reportedly criticized the "ingratitude" of certain Malian leaders, notably the Malian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, who allegedly deliberately omitted to mention in their respective CVs that they are graduates of the National School of Administration in Algiers. These latest diplomatic developments point to turmoil that will need to be monitored in the coming weeks.