Mali–Mauritania relations

Malian - Mauritanian relations

Mali	Mauritania

Malian-Mauritanian relations relate to the interstate relations of Mali and Mauritania.

History

Since Mauritania negotiated a boundary dispute with Mali in 1963, ties between the two countries have been mostly cordial. Mali and Mauritania have cooperated on several development projects, such as the OMVS and a plan to improve roads between Nouakchott and Bamako. This cooperation somewhat lessened Mali's dependence on Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire. Although relations were warm with other African states, since 1965 the orientation of Mauritania's foreign policy has been geared towards relations with North African countries.

Border crisis

Mauritanian and Malian relations arose in 2010, when French and Mauritanian forces launched a join military operation against AQIM fighters believe to be holding a French hostage on Malian soil without the consent of the Malian government. The operation was a failure and left 7 AQIM members and 2 Mauritian soldiers dead, with the hostage being executed. The operation was heavily criticized with it being considered to be an "unannounced declaration of war" against Mali