Mali-Guinea Cooperation: Vocational Training and Entrepreneurship at the Core

Conakry, April 24, 2026 - Mali and Guinea are seeking to deepen their bilateral cooperation with a renewed focus on vocational training, entrepreneurship, and skills development. Mali’s Minister of National Entrepreneurship, Employment, and Vocational Training, Oumou Sall Seck, was received by Guinean Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah during a high-level meeting held on the sidelines of the Guinea Skills Olympics, where Mali participated as the guest of honor. The talks underscored a shared ambition between the two countries to position skills development and youth employment as central pillars of their cooperation framework. Both sides emphasized the importance of translating this partnership into concrete and results-oriented initiatives. Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration in vocational training systems, promoting entrepreneurship, and enhancing the employability of young people, in line with broader regional development priorities. The meeting reflects a growing trend among West African countries to align education and employment policies in order to address youth unemployment and support sustainable economic growth. In a related development, recent adjustments to travel procedures-particularly the suspension of the Electronic Travel Authorization to Morocco (AEVM)-are seen as part of a broader effort to reinvigorate bilateral relations and facilitate mobility, further strengthening cooperation ties in the region.