Morocco and Mali Strengthen Their Partnership for a Sustainable Energy Transition
As part of a strategic bilateral dialogue, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, and her Malian counterpart, Mariam Tangara Doumbia, Minister of Environment, Sanitation, and Sustainable Development of Mali, held a videoconference on Thursday focused on environmental and climate issues. The meeting laid the foundation for a deeper partnership, structured around solidarity, knowledge-sharing, and regional integration.
A South-South Cooperation Rooted in a Forward-Looking Vision
On this occasion, Leila Benali emphasized that Morocco bases its cooperation with African countries on a renewed South-South partnership approach—centered on efficiency, concrete solidarity, and measurable impact. She highlighted key initiatives launched by the Kingdom, such as the Royal Atlantic Initiative benefiting Sahel countries, and the Climate Commission for the Sahel region, in which Mali is an active participant.
The Moroccan minister also called for the establishment of an operational dialogue between the two countries to launch joint projects, particularly in areas like technology transfer, capacity building, environmental innovation, and climate change adaptation.
Mali Inspired by Morocco’s Energy Transition Model
For her part, Mariam Tangara Doumbia praised Morocco’s leadership in energy transition, climate finance, and environmental governance. She expressed Mali’s interest in drawing inspiration from Morocco’s experience, especially in renewable energy, waste management, and the development of technical and scientific skills.
The Malian minister also presented an overview of the key environmental challenges facing her country: energy crisis, water pollution caused by informal mining, poor waste management, and degradation of agricultural land. She advocated for innovative responses based on circular economy principles and ecological transition projects, such as converting waste into energy or organic fertilizers.
Morocco Ready to Share Its Expertise
In response, Leila Benali reiterated Morocco’s readiness to support Mali in finding concrete solutions, particularly by leveraging synergies in agricultural research, sustainable land management, and the integration of green energy into agriculture.
She also highlighted the strategic role played by Moroccan institutions like Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and its InnoVx center, part of the OCP Group, which work on innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture and arid land management.
Towards a Formal Partnership Framework
Both ministers agreed on the need to accelerate technical consultations between their respective teams to quickly formalize a bilateral cooperation framework. They also expressed their intention to launch concrete projects in key areas such as waste recovery, climate adaptation, and the promotion of a circular economy.
This strengthened partnership reflects the shared ambition of Morocco and Mali to build environmental resilience together, in favor of a sustainable, united future anchored in African climate sovereignty.
