Norway announced on Thursday the closure of its embassy in Mali, citing the worsening security situation in the country since the military takeover and their demand for the withdrawal of international troops.
“The decision to close the embassy in Bamako was made following an assessment of the possibility of safeguarding Norwegian interests in Mali given the security situation in the country,” noted the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement. After overthrowing President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta on August 18, 2020, the Malian junta demanded the withdrawal of the French Barkhane force, present since 2022, and then called for the withdrawal of the United Nations peacekeeping mission (Minusma) by the end of the year.
“When the UN mission ends, it will become more difficult to maintain normal diplomatic activity in the country,” emphasized the Norwegian diplomacy. Besides Mali, the Bamako embassy represents Norway in Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, and Chad. A replacement solution is being studied.
However, this closure will not lead to a suspension of Norwegian aid, which amounted to nearly 1.2 billion crowns (over 100 million euros) for the entire Sahel region last year, Oslo clarified. The Malian junta has committed to returning power to civilians after elections scheduled for February 2024.
