The Court of Justice of the Economic Union and West African Monetary Unit (UEMOA) issued a ruling on Wednesday January 28, 2026 striking, No. 01/2026, which could redefine relations between Mali and regional organization.

In its judgment delivered in Ouagadougou, the Court of Justice of UEMOA ruled on the legality of the decision adopted by the Conference of Heads of State and Government of UEMOA following the Malian political crisis. These measures had, in particular, led to the suspension. of Mali from the bodies of the Union and affected its institutional functioning to within the community space. The sanctions were imposed in January 2022 as a result of the political transition process in Mali, including including the closure of borders, the freezing of Malian assets, the suspension financial and commercial exchanges.

These measures had a major impact on the economy national and the populations.

The Court found that the contested decision did not did not comply with the procedures provided for by Community law. La Jurisdiction thus ruled in favor of the State of Mali, recognizing the irregularity legal framework of the act adopted in 2022.

This decision marks an important step in the litigation opposing Mali to regional institutions since the beginning of the political transition. It intervenes in a context of recomposition of relationships between Bamako and several subregional organizations.

Mali had gradually returned to some regional institutions following the partial lifting of sanctions, but the The legal dispute remained pending before the Court. The January 28 ruling 2026 comes to the end of this judicial procedure.

This decision comes at a time when Mali, the Burkina Faso and Niger have initiated a dynamic of strengthened cooperation in within the Alliance of Sahel States, while maintaining relationships institutional arrangements with certain African regional organizations.