Mali leader hails Museveni

The President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, has described President Yoweri Museveni, as "a true Pan Africanist committed to the development and integration of the African Continent".

According to officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Keita made the remarks during a meeting in Bamako with Ambassador Nelson Ocheger, the newly appointed Uganda's envoy to Mali.

"Welcoming Ambassador Nelson Ocheger to the Republic of Mali, President Keita assured his guest of his government's commitment to strengthening the cordial bilateral relations which exist between Mali and Uganda," said Margret Awino Kafeero, the head of public diplomacy at the ministry of foreign affairs.

Ocheger presented his credentials to Keita on Wednesday this week.

In his remarks, Ocheger emphasised the need for regular political and diplomatic consultations on all issues of mutual interest, especially regional and African integration.

"He called for closer cooperation between Mali and Uganda in the defence and security sectors in order to fight terrorism in their respective countries and regions," Awino said.

Sharing experience on mineral exploration, specifically phosphate, limestone and gold and scaling up cooperation in trade, tourism, agriculture and transport investment are the other key areas of investment that Mali and Uganda are looking at.

"Ocheger revealed that since Mali and Uganda have significant deposits of gold, phosphates, salt and limestone, it is imperative that the two countries share experiences in the exploitation of those minerals and other natural resources," Awino said.