Mali: What the U.S. Congress Really Wants to Achieve with Its New Law

On August 31, 2026, the U.S. Congress introduced the Mali Security Partnership and Counterterrorism Act, led by Jimmy Panetta and Joe Wilson. This bill requires the State Department to develop a diplomatic strategy to counter al-Qaeda's expansion in Mali, without military intervention. The authors emphasize that the situation in Mali is interconnected with instability in the Sahel, particularly in Niger and Burkina Faso, where military juntas are shifting towards Russia. This rapprochement between Washington and Bamako began in 2025, following a period of restricted assistance due to coups in Mali.