Mali
Mali is one of the world’s least developed countries. It suffers from many geographical handicaps: landlocked and very vulnerable to climatic variation, it covers a vast area (1.2 million km², 2/3 of which is desert) that is insufficiently served by infrastructure. Despite these natural constraints, it offers a good example to the sub-region in terms of political stability and management of economic reforms.
Migration issues dominate political dialogue with Mali, although security concerns in the North are also of great importance. Important, federating work has taken place with the EU and other donors on the basis of a common diagnosis and on issues of governance. Weak government action and problems of governance nevertheless limit the impact of aid in reducing poverty and the sustainability of action taken. The current priority areas of cooperation are support for decentralisation and infrastructure, alongside major macroeconomic budgetary support. These actions will be able to continue under the 10th EDF (European Development Fund) with special emphasis on economic development of the regions in the North of the country, which have considerable agricultural potential (Niger Delta), coupled with support for improved governance.
The security situation in the North, which had improved following the Algiers agreements of July 2006, again became critical at the end of August 2007, with armed attacks by an apparently minority group of former Toaureg rebels.
The plan for a Migration Management and Information System (CIGEM) has just been signed and will seek to help define and implement a Malian migration policy that is in line with continually evolving national, regional and international policies, with particular emphasis on the link between migration and development.
