More information about Mali is available on the Mali page and from other Department of State publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.
U.S.-MALI RELATIONS
The United States established diplomatic relations with Mali in 1960, following its independence from France. In 1992, Mali moved from a one-party state to multiparty democracy. In March 2012, while an armed rebellion overtook the north of the country, Mali’s elected civilian government was removed in a military seizure of power, and an interim administration was subsequently put in place to facilitate a return to elected government that occurred in 2013. Despite a peace agreement designed to address the northern armed groups signed in June 2015 and the presence of UN peacekeeping and French forces, implementation of the Algiers peace accord has faced several challenges, and non-signatory extremist groups are still active throughout Mali. After the president interfered with the results of the April 2020 parliamentary elections, lethal protests ensued. In August 2020, a group of military officers seized the opportunity to overthrow the elected government. In October 2020, that group ceded power to a transition government, with an 18-month mandate to hold elections and return Mali to constitutional rule. On May 24, 2021, the military officers detained civilian transition officials, and on June 7, Colonel Assimi Goita was sworn in as transition president.
U.S.-Mali relations have been strong for decades and have been based on shared goals of improving stability and reducing poverty through economic growth. Mali remains near the bottom of the Human Development Index, notably in health and education. Mali continues to face serious security challenges.
The United States is committed to international efforts to help Mali restore peace and stability throughout its territory following the 2020 coup d’état, and the loss of large swaths of the country’s territory to violent extremist groups. French counterterrorism forces and the MINUSMA (United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali) peacekeeping mission have been working since 2013 to help restore and maintain Mali’s territorial integrity. The 2015 Algiers Accord, which the transition government has committed to implementing, provides an opportunity for Mali to regain the path towards stability and prosperity. The Accord’s comprehensive plan includes mechanisms to demobilize armed militias; reform the Malian military; institute crucial political and institutional reforms; jumpstart development in northern Mali; and lay the foundations for durable reconciliation between Mali’s diverse communities. The United States will continue to support Mali in achieving its goals of peace and economic development, recognizing that progress will require strong commitment from each of the signatory parties to implement their obligations under the Accord.
U.S. Assistance to Mali
Despite some restrictions, U.S. foreign assistance continues to support the Malian people. Excluding humanitarian assistance, U.S. bilateral foreign assistance to Mali’s development totaled more than $134 million in FY 2019 and over $146 million in FY 2020. More than $133 million in bilateral foreign assistance was officially requested for FY 2021. Between 2017-2021 58 percent of the budget goes to health initiatives, followed by agriculture (17 percent), education (14 percent), and peacebuilding and governance (11 percent). Understanding the need to strengthen Mali’s stability to further development investments, U.S. assistance to Mali seeks to support the country’s fragile peace and implementation of the Algiers Accord. Key U.S. interests in Mali include promoting a stable democracy and improved governance; promoting regional security by combatting terrorists and traffickers who seek to exploit ungoverned spaces in the Sahel; reducing chronic vulnerability by improving social development and increasing sustainable livelihoods; and encouraging economic growth, opportunity, and development by supporting sustainable development and increased U.S. economic investment. From these interests our 2018-2021 mission goals include: (1) promoting democratic institutions, responsive governance, and respect for human rights; (2) enhancing regional security by building institutions to counter transnational threats; (3) advancing social development (particularly health and education); (4) increasing economic growth and sustainable livelihoods; and (5) promoting the U.S. as a key partner to Malian stakeholders, enhancing mutual understanding, and protecting the wellbeing of U.S. citizens. Following the August 2020 coup, restrictions under section 7008 of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020 (the Act) and similar provisions in prior-year acts, now apply to assistance that directly benefits the Government of Mali. Through a notwithstanding authority, limited security assistance to law enforcement partners continues.
U.S. foreign assistance is administered through a whole of U.S. government approach that includes but is not limited to the longstanding in-country presence of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Institutes for Health (NIH), Department of State (DOS), and the Department of Defense (DOD) and out of country presence of DOS/Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Furthermore, Mali is a focus country for U.S. assistance priorities and initiatives, including but not limited to: Women, Peace, and Security (WPS); the Trans-Sahara Counter Terrorism Partnership (TSTCP); the Security Governance Initiative (SGI); Global Climate Change (GCC); Feed the Future (FTF); Water for the World Act; Resilience; the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI); the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR); the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA); and Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Death (EPCMD).
USAID’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (available here ) frames these initiatives and corresponding U.S. foreign assistance. USAID’s projected $690 million development assistance investment for FY 2016-2022 seeks the following goal: “Malians secure a democratic, resilient, and prosperous future" through four objectives: 1) Stabilization of conflict-affected areas reinforced (i.e: support for humanitarian assistance and transition to development in Mali’s northern regions of Gao, Timbuktu and Kidal); 2) Fostering improved public trust in government (i.e: through improved public service delivery (especially health, education, and justice), administration of justice and respect for human rights, and citizen participation in Malian electoral processes); 3) Increased resilience and adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities and households (through mitigation of climate change, countering violent extremism, economic diversification and strengthening human capital); and, 4) increased prosperity through advancing socio-economic well-being (particularly through improving health services and adopting healthy behaviors, reducing poverty and malnutrition through investment in agriculture, and promoting early grade reading for boys and girls). Underlying this goal is the understanding that a democratic, resilient, and prosperous future is unattainable if the country, as a whole, does not benefit from development assistance. U.S. programming focuses on achieving tangible peace dividends and continuing our commitment to working with all Malians.
Prolonged displacement, disrupted trade flows, and constrained humanitarian access continue to increase vulnerabilities among affected households. Mali is experiencing a complex emergency stemming from the outbreak of conflict in 2012, climate change, and regional sectarianism. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate as insecurity, violence, and chronic vulnerabilities couple with recurrent shocks, such as droughts and floods. USAID’s humanitarian response is focused on the north and, increasingly, the center of the country. More than 35 percent of the Malian population, approximately 7.2 million people, live in areas affected by crisis, and 5 million people experience food insecurity and 5.9 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities in Mali, particularly vis-a-vis health systems, already weakened by conflict and insecurity, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. As a result, food insecurity is expected to increase by 20 percent. Meanwhile, the numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) continue to rise. January 2021 recorded over 147,000 refugees and in April 2021 IDPs surged past 372,000, the highest number to date. The majority of IDPs have limited access to basic social services and many do not have adequate shelter. The precarious situation in which they live can put them at heightened risk of the direct and indirect impacts from COVID-19.
In FY 2021 the U.S. government through USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and DOS/PRM provided over $83 million to support food security, health, water/sanitation, nutrition, protection, livelihoods, and disaster mitigation. Using flexible, rapid response mechanisms and programs, this assistance also seeks to build local capacity; support development assistance where possible; and leverage and improve the contributions of key stakeholders. From FY 2011 to FY 2020 over $474 million in U.S. humanitarian assistance funding has gone to Mali through USAID. On November 9, 2021, the Mission redeclared a disaster to the ongoing complex emergency in Mali, permitting uninterrupted U.S. humanitarian assistance for multi-sectoral lifesaving assistance to IDPs and the most-acutely affected populations experiencing conflict, crisis, and/or food insecurity.
Bilateral Economic Relations
Prior to the 2020 coup and the COVID-19 crisis, Mali’s economy was growing at five percent on average since 2014. Some foreign investment has returned in key sectors such as energy, but investment remains limited by continuing insecurity in the country. Due to the economic impact of COVID-19 in particular, real GDP declined significantly in 2020. Mail is participating in the IMF/World Bank Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) which is providing space to focus resources on fighting the pandemic. Mali is a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) although it is currently suspended following the May 24 military takeover.
Mali’s Membership in International Organizations
Mali and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Mali is also one of 15 member countries (although currently suspended) of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States); one of 55 member states (although currently suspended) of the AU (African Union); a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), which aims to reduce trade barriers, harmonize monetary policy, and create a common market; one of 12 member countries of CILSS (Permanent Interstates Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel); and a member of the Group of Five (G5) Sahel.
Bilateral Representation
Principal embassy officials are listed in the Department’s Key Officers List.
Mali maintains an embassy in the United States at 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-332-2249).
More information about Mali is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:
CIA World Factbook Mali Page
U.S. Embassy
USAID Mali Page
History of U.S. Relations With Mali
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Country Page
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Export.gov International Offices Page
Millennium Challenge Corporation: Mali
Library of Congress Country Studies
Travel Information
