Mali

Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa. Its capital is Bamako. It shares borders with Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal, and Mauritania. The Niger River runs through the centre and south, where most of the population lives, while the north is mostly Saharan desert. Mali gained independence from France on 22 September 1960.

Since 2012, the country has been affected by armed conflict involving jihadist groups, Tuareg armed movements in the north, and communal violence in the centre. Two military coups (2020 and 2021) replaced the elected government with a transition administration led by Assimi Goïta. The economy is based on gold, cotton, and agriculture; in recent years, lithium production has begun.

Political system and governance

A new constitution was adopted in August 2023. In June 2025, the Council of Ministers approved a bill extending Goïta's mandate for five years, renewable, without holding elections; this bill was subsequently referred to the National Transitional Council. The government justified this by stating that institutional reform should precede elections.

Regional relations: withdrawal from ECOWAS and the AES

Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and subsequently withdrew from ECOWAS; this decision became official in January 2025. The second AES summit, held in Bamako in December 2025, launched two projects: a financing mechanism and development plan with a budget of 500 billion CFA francs, and a unified military force of 5,000 soldiers.

Mali's relations with Western countries have significantly deteriorated, as it has pursued new bilateral cooperation, particularly with Russia. The United Nations peacekeeping mission MINUSMA departed the country at the end of 2023, restructuring the security landscape.

Security and the fuel blockade

In September 2025, a fuel blockade began, carried out by JNIM (an al-Qaeda-linked group). The group attacked and burned fuel trucks coming from Senegal and Ivory Coast, and closed supply routes. The blockade affected Bamako and many regions, worsening the power crisis. Analysts described this action as part of a new economic warfare strategy.

Humanitarian situation

As of March 2025, more than 378,000 people were internally displaced, while more than 135,000 refugees and asylum seekers—mostly from Burkina Faso and Niger—were in the country; approximately 318,000 Malians had fled abroad. The 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan requested 771.3 million dollars to assist 4.7 million people.

Economy

Mali's economy depends on gold, cotton, and agriculture, with little diversification. Growth estimates for 2025 vary: the World Bank initially projected 4.9%, then indicated 4.1%, while the African Development Bank forecast 5.6%. High gold prices have supported small-scale mining, but poverty remains high, particularly in the north and centre where conflict persists.