Mali - Niger

Bilateral in force

INTRODUCTION

Mali and Niger signed an Establishment and Circulation of Persons Convention (Convention d’Établissement et de Circulation des Personnes) in 1964. According to its preamble, the primary reasons for its adoption were the friendly ties between the two countries, the commitment to achieving African unity, and the aim to provide their respective nationals with a privileged status in each other’s territory. The Convention offers nationals of each state party the freedom to enter, travel, and choose a domicile of their choice in the territory of the other state party (entrer librement sur le territoire de l'autre Etat, y voyager, y établir sa résidence dans le lieu de leur choix). It also offers the right to work as well as other rights. The Convention was ratified by Mali in 1964. It has not been possible to confirm when Niger ratified it. However, according to academic reports Maiga (2011, p. 1), the Convention entered into force in 1965. To the best of our knowledge, the Convention has not been denounced in accordance with Article 20. The Embassy of Niger in Mali mentions the Convention as being in place. Mali and Niger have been part of ECOWAS. However, in early 2024, they announced their decision to withdraw their membership.

STATE PARTIES

MALI
NIGER

TIMELINE

1964	Signature of the Establishment and Circulation of Persons Convention between both countries on 22 April
1964	Mali ratifies the Convention on 14 July
1965	The Convention enters into force on 20 February

KEY LEGAL DOCUMENTS

Establishment and Circulation of Persons Convention between Mali and Niger, Niamey, 22 April 1964 [Convention d’Établissement et de Circulation des Personnes entre le Mali et le Niger].

ADDITIONAL LEGAL DOCUMENTS

Mali, Law 64-16, 14 July 1964, ratifying the 1964 Establishment and Circulation of Persons Convention with Niger, Mali Official Gazette, 7 November 1964 [Loi n° 64-16 A.N.-R.M. autorisant le Gouvernement de la République du Mali a ratifier les accords et conventions entre la République du Mali et la République du Niger].