Mali’s military leader, Col. Assimi Goïta, recently ordered the closure of illegal Mauritanian businesses in response to Mauritania’s recent expulsion of thousands of Malian citizens, officials confirmed Thursday. The tit-for-tat move, framed as a defence of national dignity, has heightened tensions between the neighbouring West African countries, raising concerns about stability in an already volatile region.
The dispute began when Mauritania deported an estimated 10,000 Malians between 2020 and mid-2025, according to a recent Human Rights Watch report. The report, released Aug. 27, documented widespread abuses, including arbitrary arrests, inhumane detention conditions, and forced removals to remote border areas near Mali and Senegal.
Many deportees faced limited access to aid amidst worsening insecurity in Mali’s Kayes region, causing outrage in Bamako. In a statement, Mali’s government labelled the expulsions “an affront to our sovereignty” and announced reciprocal measures.
A report outlined the policy: Malians in Mauritania must surrender residency cards, trader permits, and commercial registers, mirroring requirements now imposed on Mauritanians in Mali. “Mali will not tolerate the mistreatment of its people,” said a Malian official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Mauritania, meanwhile, has requested mediation, though details remain unclear. Historical ties between the two countries, once part of the Mali Empire until the 15th century, have been strained by territorial disputes and resource conflicts, notably over grazing lands along their border, as noted in a 2023 United Nations peacebuilding report.
The current crisis may also reflect wider migration pressures, with Mauritania receiving €200 million from the European Union to curb African migration to Europe, a policy criticised for outsourcing border control. Public reactions ranged from support for Mali’s stance to claims linking the dispute to European influence, accusing the EU of exacerbating regional instability.
Analysts warn that the escalation could disrupt trade and destabilise the Sahel.
