Malian Foreign Ministry Strengthens Staff Awareness

Bamako, January 22, 2026 - On the occasion of World AIDS Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in partnership with UNAIDS, organized an awareness and information session for its staff to deepen understanding of HIV/AIDS, promote responsible behavior, and help reduce stigma. The event was held under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, with contributions from Dr. Marc Saba, UNAIDS Country Director in Mali, and Dr. Ichiaka Kone, National Executive Secretary for the Fight Against AIDS. Minister Diop stated that HIV/AIDS remains a major public health challenge, despite progress in prevention, testing, and treatment, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as youth, women, and children. He emphasized the need for a multisectoral and collective response, supported at the highest political level by President Assimi Goïta and the government. He also highlighted the role of diplomacy in mobilizing partnerships and international cooperation, welcomed the establishment of a multinational UNAIDS office in Mali serving Burkina Faso and Niger, and urged ministry staff to act as ambassadors for awareness and responsible behavior. The session featured a short awareness-raising performance, a roundtable discussion, and voluntary HIV testing.