Mali has officially withdrawn from the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), following in the footsteps of its junta-led allies, Niger and Burkina Faso. This move further distances the three Sahel nations from France, their former colonial power, as they strengthen regional ties.
The Malian Foreign Ministry announced the decision on Tuesday, stating that the country “cannot remain a member of an organization whose actions are incompatible with constitutional principles… based on the sovereignty of the state.”
Mali’s membership in the OIF had been suspended since August 2020, after a military coup ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. The organization had called for his release and the establishment of a civilian-led transition government.
On Monday, Burkina Faso and Niger also declared their withdrawal from the OIF. Both countries have taken a similar anti-French stance and pivoted toward alliances with Russia. The trio had previously exited the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to form their own Sahel confederation.
The OIF, headquartered in Paris, promotes the French language and fosters political, economic, and cultural cooperation among its 93 member states. Niger was also suspended from the group following the July 2023 coup that deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.
