Mali’s Organized Crime Landscape: A Threat to Society and Economy

Overview

Mali is grappling with a significant organized crime problem, which permeates various aspects of its society and economy. This issue demands attention from both domestic and international stakeholders.

Criminal Networks

The following points highlight the complexities of organized crime in Mali:

Armed Groups: The country has numerous armed groups engaged in various illicit activities.
Funding Mechanisms: Organized crime in Mali funds most armed groups through direct involvement, taxation, or protection rackets.
Human Smuggling: Human smuggling is a significant issue, with overlapping webs of criminal relationships.
Narcotics Networks: Narcotics networks control the trafficking of licit and illicit goods from neighboring countries.

Leadership and Governance

The following points illustrate the challenges faced by Mali’s leadership and governance:

2012 Military Coup: The 2012 military coup led to the collapse of the state’s ability to provide basic services in large areas of the country.
Corruption: Corruption and misappropriation are widespread, with links between organized crime and corruption.
International Treaties: Mali has ratified international treaties on organized crime but lacks functioning formal anti-corruption bodies.

Criminal Justice and Security

The following points highlight the limitations of Mali’s criminal justice system:

Corrupt Judicial System: The Malian judicial system is severely lacking, with corruption being a major challenge.
Inadequate Legal Action: Legal action is rarely taken against organized crime.
Security Forces Undermined: Security forces are undermined by corrupt networks linked to organized crime.

Economic and Financial Environment

The following points demonstrate the close ties between organized crime and Mali’s economy:

Trafficking and Smuggling: Trafficking and smuggling are closely embedded in Mali’s social and economic structure.
Illicit Proceeds: Illegal proceeds come from the smuggling of legal goods, people, weapons, and drugs across borders.
Cash-Based Economy: A large portion of the economy is cash-based, making it difficult to track illicit financial flows.

The following points highlight the challenges faced by civil society organizations in Mali:

Lack of Witness-Protection Program: Mali lacks a witness-protection program and mechanisms to help victims exit slavery.
Support for Victims: The government refers identified victims of trafficking to service providers for support.
Challenges Faced by Civil Society Organizations: Civil society organizations contribute to the country’s open political culture but face challenges due to increasing insecurity.