The Embassy of Mali

His Excellency Cheick Mahamadou Chérif Keïta was appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Mali to the Federal Republic of Germany on 20 March 2024. A seasoned civil administrator and statesman, Ambassador Keïta brings with him a wealth of experience in public administration and diplomacy, having held several high-level positions within the Malian government.

Prior to his current appointment, Ambassador Keïta served as Head of the Private Secretariat of the President of the Transition from 2015 until his diplomatic posting. From 1998 to 2015, he held the role of Administrative Assistant and Special Adviser in the Office of the President of the Republic.

In addition to his administrative duties, he worked as a consultant with the ACP/EU Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He was also a lecturer in public and financial law at the National School of Administration (ENA) in Bamako and a trainer/consultant at the Government’s Center for Political and Administrative Studies (CEPAG) within the ENA.

Ambassador Keïta is a graduate of the National School of Administration in Algiers, where he specialized in General Administration. He further completed practical internships within both the decentralized and central administrations in Algeria, and undertook a 22-month applied training program at the BCEAO (Central Bank of West African States) for Mali.

Born on 19 November 1959 in Bamako, he is married and the father of two children. He is fluent in French, English, Bambara, and Wolof.

Throughout his career, Ambassador Keïta has been decorated with several national honors, including the Medal of National Merit with Bee Emblem, and the ranks of Knight, Officer, and Commander of the National Order of Mali.

Relations between Germany and Mali are close and wide-ranging. Malians like to recall the fact that the Federal Republic of Germany was the first country to recognize the independent Republic of Mali after the short-lived federation with Senegal was dissolved in September 1960.

Germany supports the UN MINUSMA mission, the EU training mission EUTM, and the civilian mission EUCAP Sahel in Mali.

Cultural exchange between Germany and Mali is lively. German cultural work focuses on promoting the German language and the education of Malian students by providing university and professional education. There are nearly 1,000 Malians students majoring in German. Most German-speaking Malians of the older generation studied in the GDR.