Mali to host 2027 African Maarif Games
Malian and Turkish authorities have announced that the African Games of the Maarif network will be held in Mali in 2027. The decision followed a meeting in Bamako on March 24, further strengthening the Turkish educational network’s presence in the country.
Mali’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Abdoul Kassim Fomba, met with Türkiye’s Ambassador Efe Ceylan to discuss youth engagement and the role of sport in social cohesion.
During the meeting, the Turkish diplomat confirmed that the event, known as “MAARIF-FESTA,” would take place in Mali.
The announcement builds on a similar competition hosted in Bamako in February 2025, when the second Africa Maarif Sports Games brought together nearly 2,000 participants from 20 African countries, according to the Maarif Foundation.
Established by Turkish law in 2016, the Maarif Foundation manages Turkish state‑sponsored educational institutions abroad.
It operates in more than 50 countries, educating tens of thousands of students. In Mali, its presence dates to a 2017 agreement with the education ministry, which allowed it to take over several schools.
Turkish authorities also noted that Malian students have received scholarships to study in Türkiye for decades, and economic ties between the two countries have grown in recent years.
The 2027 games reaffirm Mali’s role in the Maarif network’s pan‑African activities, combining educational initiatives with youth‑focused sporting events.
Neil Camara
