The Mali government faces fresh scrutiny after its performance in the 2025 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index revealed a single-place decline. Falling from 135th to 136th globally, the country now trails both the Niger and Burkina Faso, fellow members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
How Mali scored and where it stands
The 2025 Index assessed 182 nations, assigning a score out of 100 to reflect perceived corruption levels. With a score of 28/100, Mali landed in the 136th position—one rank lower than in the previous edition. Despite ongoing anti-corruption initiatives by national authorities, the downward shift signals persistent challenges in governance and institutional accountability.
Civil-society voices highlight systemic gaps
Local observers point to deeper flaws undermining transparency. Ibrahim Harouna Touré, regional coordinator of the Human Rights and Peace Observatory in Gao, argues that the Index reflects entrenched opacity.
« Public debates on major state projects remain absent, and procurement processes lack clear accountability.
It feels like institutions operate with unfettered discretion, managing public funds without sufficient oversight. »
In Touré’s view, the absence of robust accountability mechanisms perpetuates corruption, eroding public trust and hindering development efforts in Mali.
