The Executive Secretary of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA) attended the eighth Meeting of the Guinea–Mali Interministerial Advisory Committee (GM-IAC) on the relaunch and continuation of works on the Fomi Multi-purpose Dam Project, held on 7th and 8th May, 2026 in Conakry, Republic of Guinea. He was accompanied on this occasion by the Director of Planning and Sustainable Development, the Director of the Niger Basin Observatory and the Director of Administration and Finance.

The Meeting’s opening ceremony, chaired by Mr. Laye Sékou CAMARA, Minister of Energy of the Republic of Guinea, was attended by Mr. Ismaël NABÉ, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of the Republic of Guinea; Mr. Aboubacar CAMARA, Minister of Sanitation, Hydraulics and Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Guinea; Mr. Tiémoko TRAORÉ, Minister of Energy and Water of the Republic of Mali; Mr. Kocou Armand HOUANYE, the NBA Executive Secretary; Mr. Aly Seydouba SOUMAH, Minister-Adviser in charge of energy matters to the President of the Republic of Guinea; Mr. Kabiné KOMARA, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Guinea; H.E. Mamadou KEITA, Ambassador of the Republic of Mali to the Republic of Guinea; H.E. SUN Yong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Guinea; Members of the Guinea–Mali Interministerial Advisory Committee; the Representative of YREC, the company responsible for the construction of the Fomi Dam; Representatives of the Executive Secretariat of the Niger Basin Authority; Representatives of relevant sectoral administrations; and the Chairman of the Regional Coordinating Unit of Users of the Niger Basin Natural Resources.

During the opening ceremony, the various speakers unanimously highlighted the strategic importance of the Fomi Multi-purpose Dam, viewed as a region wide structuring project, a catalyst for sub-regional integration, energy security, agricultural development, climate resilience and sustainable economic transformation for the benefit of the populations of both countries and the entire Niger Basin.

Following the proceedings of the eighth GM-IAC Meeting on the relaunch and continuation of the Fomi Multi-purpose Dam Project works, participants noted with satisfaction the progress made, in particular:
- The inclusion of the Fomi Dam Project among the priority structuring projects of Phase II of the hina-Guinea Framework Agreement;
- The sustained efforts for mobilising the funding needed to relaunch the project;
- The consolidation of the legal and institutional framework for cooperation between the Republic of Guinea and the Republic of Mali;
- Declaring the Fomi Dam as an Infrastructure of Common Interest between the two countries, in accordance with the Niger Basin Authority relevant legal instruments.

The participants made recommendations to the stakeholders, including the resumption this year of the Fomi Dam construction works, the conduct of studies on the sharing of costs and benefits, and the re-engagement of all stakeholders.

The NBA Executive Secretariat will take the necessary steps to inform the other NBA member countries of the progress made with the declaration of the Fomi Dam an Infrastructure of Common Interest between the Republic of Guinea and the Republic of Mali, as well as the forthcoming prospects for the resumption and continuation of the project’s construction works.

At the closing ceremony, the Ministers in charge of Energy of the Republic of Guinea and the Republic of Mali, together with the NBA Executive Secretary, reaffirmed their shared commitment to working in a spirit of solidarity, shared responsibility and regional integration, towards the effective resumption and successful completion of the Fomi Multi-purpose Dam Project, considered a major lever for sustainable development, security and socio-economic stability in the Niger Basin space.

The Delegations expressed their sincere thanks and deep gratitude to their Excellencies Mr. Mamadi DOUMBOUYA, President of the Republic of Guinea, Head of State, and General Assimi GOITA, President of the Transition, Head of State of the Republic of Mali, for their sustained commitment to strengthening sub-regional cooperation and relaunching the Fomi Multi-purpose Dam Project.