The 2025 report from Transparency International reveals a slight decline for Mali in the global Corruption Perceptions Index. The country has slipped from 135th to 136th place worldwide. Notably, Mali now ranks behind its regional partners in the AES confederation, specifically Niger and Burkina Faso.
A decline despite anti-corruption initiatives
This annual index monitors the progress of nations in their fight against graft. In the 2025 assessment of 182 countries, Mali obtained a score of 28/100, resulting in its drop to the 136th position. Although the national authorities have introduced measures to tackle financial misconduct, the data suggests these efforts have yet to improve the country’s international standing.
Challenges in governance and accountability
According to Ibrahim Harouna Touré, regional coordinator of the Observatoire des droits humains et de la paix in Gao, this ranking is a symptom of deep-seated issues regarding transparency. “There is a lack of public debate and critical oversight concerning major state projects,” he observed. He further noted that the processes for awarding public contracts often lack the necessary accountability.
The civil society advocate emphasized that institutional leaders are not sufficiently answerable to the citizens. Touré remarked that there is a perception of unchecked administration, where various bodies manage public wealth with significant autonomy. In his view, these deficiencies in transparency and the lack of reporting to the public are the main reasons why corruption in Mali remains a persistent challenge.
