Mali has seen its standing decline in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index published by Transparency International. The nation has dropped from 135th to 136th place globally, falling behind its AES allies, Niger and Burkina Faso.
The annual report, which evaluates how corruption is perceived in various countries, assessed 182 nations in 2025. With a score of 28/100, Mali now occupies the 136th position, marking a one-spot decrease from its previous ranking. This shift occurs despite various initiatives launched by the authorities to tackle illicit financial practices within the country.
Challenges in governance and transparency
According to Ibrahim Harouna Touré, the regional coordinator for the Observatory of Human Rights and Peace in Gao, the latest data from Transparency International highlights deep-rooted issues in national governance. “There is a lack of public debate and critical oversight regarding major state projects. When it comes to public procurement and the awarding of contracts, accountability remains absent,” he stated.
The civil society advocate pointed out that leaders of various public institutions are not sufficiently answerable to the general population. “One gets the impression of unbridled governance. Each institution seems to manage public resources as it sees fit,” added Ibrahim Harouna Touré.
In his view, these significant gaps in transparency and the failure to report back to the public are the primary reasons why corruption in Mali continues to be a persistent challenge.