Mali’s standing in Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perception Index has experienced a setback. The West African nation now occupies the 136th position worldwide, marking a one-place decline from its previous 135th rank. This places Mali behind its regional allies, Niger and Burkina Faso, both members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) confederation.
The Corruption Perception Index is a crucial tool designed to evaluate countries’ performance in tackling corruption. For the 2025 assessment, a total of 182 nations were scrutinized. Mali achieved a score of 28 out of a possible 100, landing it at the 136th spot. This slight regression occurs despite various efforts by Malian authorities to combat corruption within the country.
According to Ibrahim Harouna Touré, the regional coordinator for the Human Rights and Peace Observatory in Gao, this latest ranking from Transparency International underscores persistent challenges in Mali’s governance and transparency frameworks. He expressed concern, stating, “There is a noticeable absence of public discourse or oversight regarding major state projects. Furthermore, accountability is severely lacking in public procurement processes.”
The civil society representative also believes that leaders within various state institutions do not adequately report their activities or financial dealings to the public. Ibrahim Harouna Touré elaborated, “One gets the distinct impression of unrestricted governance, where each institution appears free to manage public funds as it deems appropriate.”
In his view, these systemic shortcomings in accountability and transparency are primary factors contributing to the enduring presence of corruption across Mali.
