🇲🇱Mali Political Stability: 10.9/100

Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa, bordered by Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Senegal, and Mauritania. It covers an area of 1,240,192 square kilometers, making it the 24th largest country in the world. The terrain is mostly flat with rolling northern plains and is largely situated in the southern Sahara Desert, characterized by a hot desert climate and a tropical wet and dry climate in the south. The country experiences negligible rainfall and frequent droughts, with a rainy season from late April to early October.

As of 2021, Mali's population is estimated at 21.9 million, with a significant portion living in rural areas and a median age of 16.4 years. The population is predominantly Muslim, with about 90% adhering to Islam, and the official language is Bambara, spoken by approximately 80% of the population. Mali has a high birth rate and a low life expectancy of 63.2 years, with significant health challenges and low literacy rates.

World Bank governance: rule of law 12th percentile, corruption control 15th percentile, political stability 0th percentile.

Mali's strongest governance dimension is Voice & Accountability at 16/100, placing it in the bottom quartile globally. This indicates relatively strong citizen participation in selecting government, along with freedom of expression, association, and a free media.

The weakest dimension is Political Stability at 0/100. Political instability concerns may affect the overall security environment and long-term predictability.

A moderate spread of 16 points separates the strongest and weakest indicators. This suggests governance strengths in some areas but room for improvement in others. Travelers can generally rely on institutional frameworks, though certain aspects of governance may be less dependable.

Mali's fragile governance environment presents real challenges for travelers. Institutional capacity is severely limited across most dimensions. Visitors should expect minimal government services, potential interactions with corruption, and limited recourse through legal systems. Travel to Mali requires extensive preparation and risk awareness.

The U.S. State Department currently rates Mali as Level 4 (Do Not Travel). Elevated advisory levels combined with governance data paint a fuller picture of conditions on the ground that travelers should consider.