Relationship dossier
Mali
Nigeria
Relationship assessment
Nigeria’s participation in ECOWAS sanctions marked a period of friction with Mali.
Mali toward Nigeria
Not assessedNigeria toward Mali
-15Nigeria, as an ECOWAS member, participated in regional sanctions against Mali after the 2021 coup. ECOWAS lifted the economic sanctions in July 2022.
Overall relationship
Not assessedHow 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
Nigeria participated in ECOWAS sanctions against Mali following the 2021 coup, and ECOWAS lifted the economic sanctions in July 2022. This is a concrete episode of pressure rather than evidence of sustained bilateral confrontation. Information about direct cooperation between the two governments is limited.
Areas of tension
- ECOWAS pressure on Mali following the 2021 coup and disagreement over the country's political transition.
Key developments
ECOWAS lifted economic sanctions against Mali after the country's transitional authorities set out a timetable for a return to civilian rule.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of direct bilateral security and economic cooperation is unclear.
- The scope and implementation of bilateral agreements are unclear.