Bamako has been deprived of its two main ports of exit, Dakar and Abidjan, under the effect of ECOWAS sanctions against Mali. The public company that manages the cotton sector has indicated that exports have been possible via Guinea at the request of the CMDT and also thanks to a new transit corridor in Mauritanian territory.

The cotton sector management project had been in the works for years. In January, sanctions were imposed by ECOWAS against Bamako to allow steps to be speeded up. Sogeco, a Bolloré subsidiary, has relocated part of its teams to Nouakchott because it cannot export Malian cotton via Dakar.

Sid'Ahmed Abeidna, managing director of Sogeco said, “We did a first test in this period which was a bit specific and crucial for our Malian friends, explains, subsidiary of the Bolloré group. So we tried to push this project to completion. According to him, “We have a 30,000 ton project. If we manage to make between 20,000 and 25,000 tons, that will already be a very good thing.”

Furthermore, ECOWAS has lifted its sanctions since July, and evacuations have resumed via traditional ports. However, the road of hope continues and should continue to receive Malian cotton next year.