Abdoulaye Diop, Mali’s foreign minister, has expressed concern about the instrumentalization and politicization of human rights, noting that they are not the privilege of any country or civilization. Diop has criticized those countries that previously benefited from slavery and colonization in Africa and now feel they have the authority to lecture on human rights. These statements were made on June 10 in Bamako.
The Malian foreign minister cited the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as an example, noting that many prefer to avoid talking about human rights in that context. Diop emphasized that the value of human life is the same everywhere, whether in Ukraine, in the Sahel, in Palestine, or in Latin America.
Referring to the rapprochement between Mali and Russia, Diop welcomed this relationship and highlighted the joint work in various sectors, such as agriculture, transport, mining, defense, and security, with the aim of promoting the economic development of both parties. The foreign minister noted that Mali shares views with Russia on a wide range of international issues, especially regarding the vision of a multipolar world.
Diop has highlighted the strong ties between Mali and Russia since the independence of the African country and underlined the common desire to work for a just and balanced world where the contributions of all countries, civilizations, and religions are equally respected. In addition, the foreign minister mentioned that the acquisitions of Russian defense equipment and tools made by Mali in recent months are contributing to combating terrorism in the country.