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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE & GOVERNMENT POSITIONS
2014-2017

Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and African Integration

GOVERNMENT OF MALI, Bamako, Mali

  • Chief Negotiator on behalf of the Malian Government and leader of the ministerial delegation to the Inter-Malian inclusive peace talks held from June 2014 to May 2015 in Algiers. The negotiations led to the signing of the 2015 Algiers Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. The agreement put an end to Mali’s fourth Tuareg rebellion. It was a critical contribution to maintaining Mali’s territorial integrity, as well as peace and stability in the Sahel;  

  • Principal government’s focal point to the United Nations/MINUSMA for the oversight and monitoring of peace and security in Mali. Oversaw the negotiation, preparation, adoption and implementation of the various resolutions of the UN Security Council on the situation in Mali;

  • Regular appearances at the United Nations Security Council briefings and interaction with its members and UN secretariat;

  • Initiated, chaired, provided oversight and strategic direction and coordination to the High-level Joint Steering Committee UN/Government on the United Nations Development Assistance Framework in Mali (UNDAF+ 2015-2019) co-chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator;  

  • Launched the SDGs in Mali and championed the establishment of a national framework for the implementation of the Agenda 2030 for sustainable development;

  • As Chair of the G5 Sahel Council of Ministers during Mali’s rotating chairmanship of this organization (February-December 2017), increased the visibility, credibility and effectiveness of the organization. Developed and successfully implemented a roadmap for Mali’s presidency focused on the implementation of the G5 Sahel Joint Force. Provided political, technical and financial support for the operationalization of the military force, with strong coordination with the African Union, the United Nations and the European Union;

  • Planned and organized the International Conference on Rebuilding Mali held at the OECD in Paris (Oct. 2015), which successful raised USD$3.2 billion for the economic recovery, reconstruction and implementation for the Algiers peace agreement in Mali;

  • Organized and coordinated the political and diplomatic efforts for the Africa-France Heads of State and Government Summit (55 countries) held in Bamako, Mali (Jan. 2017), which resulted in the adoption of the Bamako Declaration on Partnership, Peace and Economic Development;

  • Acted as Special Envoy and Represented the President of Mali to summits and other international fora (UN Climate Summit, UNGA, AU and OIC Summits);

  • Led Mali's ministerial delegations to international conferences and bilateral partnership commissions in Africa, Europe, Middle East and Asia.

2013-2014

Director, Africa Office

UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Representative to the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD Secretariat)

  • Proactively engaged and strengthened the partnership and dialogue between WFP and the African Union, its member states, UNECA and NEPAD on food security, nutrition, resilience and capacity building issues including the integration of the nutrition agenda in continental frameworks and ensure constant and senior level interface with African leaders;

  • Spearheaded the Africa Risk Capacity and Cost of Hunger in Africa Study, which generated valuable lessons on how to best apply WFP’s capacities for the benefit of the African Union and its Member States;

  • Oversaw the overall rollout in 12 African countries and the continental launch of the first report of the Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA) Study which revealed staggering statistics for each country and unveiled the crushing impact of children malnutrition on the economies of four African countries.

2009-2012

Representative and Country Director

UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD PROGRAM (WFP), Lilongwe, Malawi

  • Repositioned WFP and the strategic and operational direction of humanitarian, development and political engagement of WFP in Malawi. WPF was at the time negatively perceived by the government and the country office almost bankrupt;

  • Established a new foundation for WFP/Government of Malawi partnership on food security, nutrition and capacity building programs and secured funding for the country program.

2003-2009

Ambassador of Mali to the United States of America and Latin America

GOVERNMENT OF MALI, Washington, DC

  • Improved, oversaw and managed bilateral relations and programs with the United States, Latin America, the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund, the United States Agency for International Development and mobilized funds for the economic development of Mali;

  • During my tenure, Mali benefited from major United States Government initiatives such as the Millennium Challenge Account (MCC), the Presidential Initiative for Education in Africa, the Presidential Initiative to Fight Malaria and the African Growth and opportunity Act (AGOA);

  • Actively contributed to place agriculture, rural development and food security at the center of the development assistance agenda in Washington, DC. and regularly attended and spoke at the World Food Prize annual events in Des Moines, IOWA, USA and the United States Congress;

  • Successfully led the Convening Group of the Community of Democracies resulting in the adoption of the historic “Bamako Consensus on Democracy and Development,” emphasizing the link between democracy and development (2007);

  • Initiated public diplomacy actions to enhance Mali’s political, economic and cultural image and outlook and strengthened partnerships with members of United States Congress, US Government and States’ Officials, Think Tanks, civil society and grassroots organizations, private sector, universities and others.

2000-2003

Ambassador and Senior Diplomatic Adviser to the President of the Republic of Mali

MALI’S PRESIDENT’S OFFICE, Bamako, Mali

  • Advised the President of Mali on foreign policy, international cooperation and key diplomatic initiatives to advance country objectives in promoting peace, security, good governance, stability, building regional integration and forging partnerships for economic development;

  • Served as representative of the President of Mali to the Steering Committee of New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD);

  • Organized, planned and monitored diplomatic activities/initiatives of the President of the Republic Mali acting as rotating chair of the Economic Community of West African States. (ECOWAS), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS);

  • Served on an informal team of experts to initiate the drafting of the Constitutive Act of the African Union and engaged in diplomatic efforts to mobilize African leaders to support the creation of the African Union;

  • Took part in initiatives and facilitated adoption of resolutions of the United Nations Security Council under Mali’s rotating chairmanship - for example, through the first ever Security Council Summit at the level of Heads of State and Government held in 2000 to address global security challenges. This was held on the margins of the historic United Nations Millennium Summit;

  • Contributed to the design and development of various good governance and conflict prevention and management mechanisms and protocols within the African Union, NEPAD, ECOWAS and the Community of Democracies.

1999-2000

Political and Diplomatic Adviser to the Foreign Minister of Mali

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Bamako, Mali

  • Responsible for political and diplomatic initiatives and for the drafting of policy papers on peace and

  • security, governance, strategies to accelerate regional integration (African Union, ECOWAS and other regional organizations), United Nations, bilateral issues, presidential official visits and liaison with Presidency.

1992-1998

Coordinator for Mali/European Union Partnership and Programs

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, Bamako Mali

  • Responsible for Mali-European Union and ACP-European Union relations and cooperation: strengthened the role and contribution of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the oversight and implementation of European Development Fund (EDF) supported projects through the creation of a Special Unit and adoption of new guidelines and procedures, which increased the effectiveness and a high level of disbursement of funding with a portfolio of over $200 million.

1990-1992

Program Officer at the Directorate for International Cooperation

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Bamako, Mali

  • Managed and monitored the cooperation of Mali with Arab and Islamic Development and Financial Institutions, Western European countries and the International Organization of the Francophonie.

EDUCATION
1994

M.A., International Relations, with Honors

International Institute of Public Administration (IIAP), Paris, France

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1994

M.A. in Diplomacy and Management of International Organizations

Jean Monnet School for International Studies, University Paris XI, France

1989

B.A. in Diplomacy (Political Science & International Relations), with Honors

National School of Administration (ENA), Algiers, Algeria

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