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Mali–Mauritania relations

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Mali–Mauritania relations
Map indicating locations of Mali and Mauritania

Mali

Mauritania

Mali–Mauritania relations refer to the interstate relations of the Republic of Mali and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

History

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Since Mauritania negotiated a boundary dispute with Mali in 1963, ties between the two countries have been mostly cordial.[1] Mali and Mauritania have cooperated on several development projects, such as the OMVS and a plan to improve roads between Nouakchott and Bamako.[1] This cooperation somewhat lessened Mali's dependence on Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire.[1] 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.[1]

Border crisis

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Mauritanian and Malian relations arose in 2010, when French and Mauritanian forces launched a joint military operation against AQIM fighters believed 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 Mauritanian 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.[2]

Current status

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Handloff, Robert E. "Relations with Other African States". In Mauritania: A Country Study (Robert E. Handloff, editor). Library of Congress Federal Research Division (June 1988). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ "Mauritanian raid in Mali criticised".