[1] After 68 years of French colonial rule, Mali and Turkey established relations.

During 1970s Turkey[2] — in conjunction with the World Bank — has been providing technical and management assistance[2] for state companies.

[3] The assistance continued in 1982 after Mali and the IMF signed an agreement to promote private enterprise.

Turkey, along with the OPEC Fund for International Development paid US$142 million[5] for the 359-mile paved road[5] between Sevaré and Gao, which replaced dirt roads that required three days to traverse.

[5] Similarly, Turkey cooperated with Switzerland in creating a road maintenance program in 1981 to 1983.