On October 13, 2009, Richmond Virginia USA and Segou MALI officially became sister cities. On February 5, 2010 Segou held a complementary 2nd signing ceremony in Segou during festival week. This four-year venture successfully launches the tangible relationship between these two seemingly disparate cities, which though thousands aof miles apart share many of the same challenges and demonstrate strengths that each can relate to and hopefully benefit from. In the spirit of citizen diplomacy, the effectiveness of one individual’s ability to bridge differences and make strong ties with another is the basis upon which much good work is made possible and accomplished. The achievement of a Sister Cities International AUPAP-Phase II grant to work on a water/health/sanitation project to benefit Segou is just one acknowledgement of how citizen diplomacy can start a highly valued momentum of mutual trust, access and achievement. On this website we will try to keep you aprised of the progress of this relationship.