After Burkina Faso, Niger, and Gabon, Mali has now joined in applauding Morocco's initiative to reintegrate the six countries that experienced coups d'état into the African Union's structures. Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop praised this «fortunate initiative driven by the highest authorities of the Kingdom of Morocco». In a letter to his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, he emphasized that «this important meeting on March 18 in Addis Ababa finally allowed the countries in political transition to present their respective authorities' vision, the progress made, the challenges encountered, and the legitimate expectations of their populations—who hope for greater solidarity and support from the pan-African organization»—to the AU's main body responsible for continental peace and security. As the chair of the AU's Peace and Security Council for March, Morocco held informal consultations on March 18 in Addis Ababa with the six countries in political transition. These discussions provided representatives from Burkina Faso, Gabon, Guinea, Sudan, Niger, and Mali—currently suspended from the AU—an opportunity to review the progress of their democratic transitions and maintain a constructive dialogue with the continental organization.
