Bamako Pays Tribute to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Bamako, March 5, 2026 - Mali’s Prime Minister, Major General Abdoulaye Maïga, paid tribute to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, describing him as a “martyr of the sovereignty of peoples,” during a visit to the residence of Iran’s ambassador in Bamako on Thursday. Maïga signed the book of condolences following Khamenei’s reported death on February 28, 2026. The Malian leader was accompanied by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Abdoulaye Diop during the visit. In his message, delivered on behalf of Mali’s transitional president General Assimi Goïta, Maïga praised Khamenei for what he described as a lifelong struggle in defense of Iran’s sovereignty and the interests of its people. “He died a martyr, defending until his last breath the higher interests of the Iranian state and people, in line with the vision of Ayatollah Khomeini,” the message stated. According to Maïga, the passing of the Iranian leader leaves “an immense void,” but his political legacy and advocacy for what he called a “more just and multipolar world that respects identities” would continue to inspire those fighting for national independence and sovereignty. The Malian government also extended condolences to Khamenei’s family and to the authorities and people of Iran, emphasizing solidarity between the two nations during the mourning period. Maïga reaffirmed Mali’s support for Iran and praised Khamenei’s life as one dedicated to opposing injustice and defending the sovereignty of nations. “We pray for the eternal rest of his soul and for all Iranian martyrs,” the prime minister concluded in the message. The tribute highlights growing diplomatic ties between Mali’s transitional authorities and partners outside traditional Western alliances, particularly countries advocating a multipolar international order.