Keypoints:
- Washington pushes new deal to resume drone surveillance over Mali
- Flights would track al Qaeda-linked jihadist groups across the Sahel
- Intelligence effort partly tied to search for kidnapped US pilot
THE United States is moving closer to an agreement with Mali that would allow American aircraft and drones to conduct intelligence missions over the country, marking a potential reset in security cooperation between Washington and Bamako.
According to current and former US officials cited by Reuters, negotiations are advancing towards a deal that would permit surveillance flights aimed at tracking jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda that operate across Mali and the wider Sahel region.
If finalised, the arrangement would allow US intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations to resume over Mali’s vast territory, where militant groups have steadily expanded their presence.
Sanctions relief opens diplomatic door
Washington signalled a shift in its approach last month by lifting sanctions against Mali’s defence minister and several senior officials.
The measures had been imposed over alleged links between Malian authorities and Russian mercenary forces operating in the region. Removing the sanctions was a key demand from Mali’s government and a necessary step towards restoring broader cooperation.
Malian officials welcomed the decision, saying it could help improve bilateral ties while respecting the country’s sovereignty.
The US State Department declined to comment on the negotiations, while a Malian government spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.
Intelligence effort linked to hostage case
One factor driving Washington’s push to restore aerial surveillance is the search for an American pilot believed to be held by jihadist militants in Mali.
The pilot was kidnapped by armed men in neighbouring Niger while working with Christian missionaries. US officials believe he is currently being held by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), the al Qaeda-affiliated militant coalition active across the Sahel.
JNIM has carried out numerous kidnappings of foreign nationals in the region as a way to finance its operations, according to data from the conflict monitoring organisation Armed Conflict Location & Event Data.
US officials hope that improved intelligence coverage could help track militant activity and potentially provide information about the hostage’s location.
Washington attempts to rebuild Sahel ties
The negotiations reflect a broader effort by the Trump administration to repair relations with Mali and other Sahelian governments after several years of diplomatic tension.
Last month, the US special envoy for Africa, Nick Checker, travelled to Bamako for talks with Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop. The State Department said the visit aimed to ‘chart a new course’ in the bilateral relationship and move beyond earlier policy disagreements.
Diop welcomed Washington’s outreach and said Mali supported cooperation built on mutual respect and non-interference.
The shift signals a departure from previous US policies that emphasised democratic transitions after military coups in the region. In recent years, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have all experienced military takeovers that removed Western-backed civilian governments.
Many Sahelian leaders criticised earlier US and European pressure for elections, arguing it amounted to interference in domestic affairs.
Security situation deteriorates
Meanwhile, the security landscape in Mali continues to worsen.
Militant groups linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State have expanded their influence across large areas of the country despite years of international military intervention. France previously led a major counterterrorism mission in the Sahel before withdrawing forces, while Russian mercenaries later provided support to Malian authorities.
Over the past year, suspected jihadists have targeted key transport routes and gold mining operations, disrupting fuel deliveries and placing growing economic pressure on the capital, Bamako.
Mali is one of Africa’s largest gold producers and a major country in the Sahel, covering a land area roughly twice the size of France.
Sahel conflict spreads beyond Mali
Security analysts warn that the crisis in Mali is part of a broader destabilisation across the Sahel, where militant groups linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State are expanding into neighbouring countries. The insurgency has increasingly threatened coastal West African states including Ghana, Benin and Togo, raising fears that violence could spread further south.
Analysts say the growing reach of groups such as JNIM reflects weak state presence in rural areas and shifting alliances among armed factions operating across the region.
Recent reporting by Africa Briefing has highlighted how the security landscape in Mali has evolved since the withdrawal of French forces, while other analysis has warned that jihadist networks are expanding across the Sahel. Coastal governments are also tightening border security amid concerns that militants could push further south, with West African states already on alert over possible attacks.
For Washington, restoring aerial intelligence coverage over Mali could therefore serve a broader regional purpose, allowing the United States to track militant activity across one of the world’s most volatile security corridors.
Regional tensions complicate cooperation
Efforts to restore cooperation between Washington and Sahel governments have faced setbacks.
In December, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso imposed reciprocal travel restrictions on Americans after the three countries were included on a White House travel ban list.
Earlier tensions also led Niger to order the withdrawal of US forces from a major drone base in Agadez in 2024. The facility had been a key hub for American intelligence operations across West Africa.
Where flights could operate from
It remains unclear where US aircraft would be based if Mali ultimately approves the surveillance missions.
Regional partners such as Cote d’Ivoire have previously been discussed as potential staging points because of their proximity to Mali’s northern border. Ghana has also hosted US contractors involved in intelligence operations in the region.
A former US official told Reuters that cooperation would likely benefit Mali because the country lacks advanced surveillance capabilities.
‘They will derive direct benefit from US ISR activities where their national capabilities are insufficient,’ the former official said, referring to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
According to Reuters, US intelligence previously shared with Malian authorities helped support a strike targeting senior JNIM leadership last year.
While the final details of the agreement remain uncertain, officials say negotiations appear to be moving towards restoring at least limited aerial surveillance operations over Mali.
