Mali
In Mali, we focus on addressing the roots of tensions that drive conflicts and fuel the spread of violent extremism.
This includes resolving and managing disputes over water and land, addressing marginalisation, strengthening economic opportunities, and rebuilding trust between citizens and the state. We also support dialogue between different society groups and help communities engage in decision-making.
Our projects currently span Bamako, Sikasso, Segou, Mopti, Kayes, and Tombouctou regions. We help governments and communities understand what drives violent extremism and conflict – and how to respond in ways that support peace. We do this by bringing different groups together, sharing knowledge, and making the case for policy and practice change. We also work closely with humanitarian and development organisations to ensure their programmes are conflict-sensitive and contribute to peace.
Together with our national and international partners, we connect efforts across linked issues: natural resource management and climate change; gender; migration; mining and resource governance; and the spread of violent extremism.
Our approach pays close attention to the role of gender and places communities at the centre, supporting people to identify the problems they face and find their own solutions. This includes investing in local organisations so they have what they need to keep working toward peace.
Our partners in Mali
- Mines Advisory Group (MAG)
- Action pour la Formation et l’Autopromotion Rurale (AFAR)
Understanding conflict context in Mali
Mali’s conflict is complex, multi-layered, and evolving. What began as a rebellion in the north in 2012 gradually grew into a larger crisis affecting the broader Sahel region. This led to the involvement of extremist groups, growing tensions between communities, and political instability.
At the local level, much of the insecurity is rooted in competition over land, water, and pasture – pressures made worse by climate change and population growth. In this context, armed groups can easily exploit these frustrations and offer income, protection, and a sense of belonging. This is especially relevant where there are few ways to resolve disputes peacefully and little economic opportunity, particularly for young people.
These local pressures intersect with deeper national challenges: government institutions struggling with capacity constraints, uneven access to public services, ongoing security sector reform, and political transitions. All of it complicates the efforts to restore state authority and rebuild trust in it – especially in the worst-affected regions.
Mali’s crisis cannot be understood in isolation. Porous borders allow armed groups and criminal networks to move easily between Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, increasing instability in the wider Liptako-Gourma region.
The conflict persists because its drivers reinforce one another: poverty, marginalisation, climate stress, illicit economies – including trafficking and informal mining – and identity-based tensions. The consequences are far-reaching: displacement, destroyed livelihoods, school closures, cut services, divided communities, and disrupted economies.
Lasting stability in Mali requires addressing the core drivers of conflict: building inclusive governance, expanding economic opportunities, strengthening community ties, and restoring trust between communities and institutions at all levels.
Sustained investment in the Sahel region: A humanitarian, peacebuilding and strategic imperative
The Sahel, a region of immense strategic importance in the global fight against extremism, terrorism and the spread of instability, is facing one of the fastest-growing humanitarian and security crises. This brief outlines the critical nature of continued investment in the region and explores six tangible actions towards building sustainable peace.
Get in touch with our Mali team
