Relationship dossier
Ivory Coast
Mali
Relationship assessment
Strong economic links coexist with sanctions-related and security disputes.
Ivory Coast toward Mali
-20Ivory Coast supported ECOWAS sanctions against Mali following the coups, including measures that restricted regional trade and financial ties. This confrontational policy has coexisted with the countries’ substantial economic and transport connections.
Mali toward Ivory Coast
-25Mali detained 49 Ivorian soldiers in July 2022 and prosecuted them on security-related charges, escalating a serious dispute with Ivory Coast. Mali later pardoned and released them following diplomatic mediation.
Overall relationship
-15The relationship combines substantial economic and transport interdependence with significant political and security friction. Ivory Coast’s support for ECOWAS sanctions against Mali and Mali’s detention of Ivorian soldiers created major strains; the soldiers’ release eased the latter crisis but does not erase the broader tensions.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Ivory Coast and Mali have substantial economic and transport interdependence, alongside serious political and security friction. Ivory Coast supported ECOWAS sanctions imposed on Mali after the 2020 and 2021 coups. Relations deteriorated further when Mali detained 49 Ivorian soldiers in 2022; they were later pardoned and released after diplomatic mediation.
Areas of tension
- Ivory Coast’s support for ECOWAS sanctions against Mali after the coups.
- Mali’s 2022 detention and prosecution of 49 Ivorian soldiers.
Key developments
Ivory Coast supported ECOWAS sanctions imposed on Mali following the coups.
Mali detained 49 Ivorian soldiers, triggering a major bilateral dispute.
Mali pardoned and released the detained Ivorian soldiers after diplomatic mediation.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of bilateral cooperation following the 2022 soldiers dispute is unclear.
- The implementation and current scope of bilateral security and economic arrangements are unclear.