Skip to main content

Country analysis

Mali


The humanitarian situation in Mali continues to deteriorate as conflict drives displacement and increases humanitarian needs. Access restrictions to basic services affect the central and northern regions the most. As at November 2023, there were more than 391,900 IDPs in the country, while more than 100,000 had found refuge in neighbouring countries.

In 2023, the MINUSMA withdrawal added a new dimension to the complex security situation in the country, as it was followed by a competition between the Malian Armed Forces and the Cadre Stratégique Permanent (CSP) to take over the UN mission’s former bases. These tensions led to more displacement, especially from the northern regions.

Some regions under non-state armed group control have also experienced a partial or total blockade. Since August 2023, Tombouctou has been under one such blockade, posing access issues that are worsening the life conditions of more people around the country, with some of them cut off from health services.

From 2020–2021, two military coups took place in the country, heightening political instability.

(IOM accessed 09/02/2024, UNHCR 20/01/2024, MSF 13/12/2023, ICG 13/10/2023, Protection Cluster 22/02/2024)

Latest updates on country situation

15 October 2024

Since April 2024, Mali has been experiencing exceptional rainfall, the heaviest since 1967. The impact has killed at least 76 people, injured 148, and affected around 257,000. Flooding across the country has also postponed the start of the academic year, originally scheduled for 1 October, to 4 November, delaying school for around 3.8 million students. The floods have damaged or destroyed nearly 400 schools, while others serve as shelter for affected people. By 3 October, the most severely affected regions were Gao Mopti, Ségou, and Tombouctou. By May, close to 2,000 schools across the country were already nonfunctional, 91% of which were because of insecurity. These school closures already affected around 588,600 children across the country. The recent damage to education facilities raises fears of a further delayed return to school, increasing the risk of dropouts. The flooding is expected to continue until November. (OCHA 03/10/2024, RFI 09/10/2024, Education Cluster 31/05/2024)

current crises
in Mali


These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

MLI001 - Complex crisis

Last updated 27/12/2024


Drivers

Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

4.2 Very High

Access constraints

4.0

Analysis products
on Mali

Mali: Situation of internal displacement

07 June 2024

Mali: Situation of internal displacement

DOCUMENT / PDF / 527 KB

Since January 2024, protracted violence and conflict between non-state armed groups (NSAGs) linked to the Islamic State have besieged major towns in northeastern and central Mali (in the Gao, Kidal, Ménaka, Mopti, San, Ségou, Taoudénit, and Tombouctou regions)

AudioConflict and violenceDisplacement

Attached resources

Mali: Violence in Ménaka and Gao regions

16 June 2022

Mali: Violence in Ménaka and Gao regions

DOCUMENT / PDF / 350 KB

Non-state armed groups have launched an offensive in the north of the country to take advantage of the current context of political instability, the withdrawal of military troops from conflict zones, and the weakness of the UN stabilisation mission in Mali. Their goal is to expand their territorial control on the border between Mali and Niger. 

Conflict and violence
Scenarios: Humanitarian access in Central Sahel

31 March 2021

Scenarios: Humanitarian access in Central Sahel

DOCUMENT / PDF / 1 MB

Possible developments in humanitarian access in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger during 2021.

Humanitarian access
Central Sahel: Humanitarian access and civil-military coordination

28 January 2021

Central Sahel: Humanitarian access and civil-military coordination

DOCUMENT / PDF / 924 KB

Irregular and intercommunal conflict and sudden-onset disasters have increased humanitarian needs across the triborder region between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Humanitarian operating spaces have also been restricted.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger: Vulnerability to COVID-19 containment measures

29 April 2020

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger: Vulnerability to COVID-19 containment measures

DOCUMENT / PDF / 1 MB

This report highlights the potential impact of COVID-19 containment measures in three countries in the Sahel region: Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The premise of this regional analysis is that, given these key factors, the three countries are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 containment measures.

COVID-19
View more