Attachments
Context
Mali is a landlocked country in West Africa, it is the eighth-largest country in the continent. Mali is an agriculture- dependent economy where 60 per cent of the workforce relies on agrarian income. As a result, Mali is susceptible to raw material fluctuations which are becoming increasingly threatened by climate change posed volatilities. Droughts, desertification, floods and overexploitation of resources contribute to poverty and food insecurity. According to an IMF publication, by mid-2023, a quarter of Mali’s population would face food insecurity or would be at risk of doing so.
Recent years were marked by an exacerbation of violence in the north and intercommunal conflicts in the central regions such as Segou and Mopti. The continued violence has led to a significant deterioration in the security and humanitarian context. The persistence of insecurity in these areas has led to population displacement and increased humanitarian access constraints. In 2023, following increasing tensions between the Mali authorities and its international partners, several partners announced their withdrawal from the country. These withdrawals have had a significant impact on the humanitarian situation in the country, leading it an increase in humanitarian needs.
The security situation in the central Sahel region has accelerated forced displacement, both within Mali and to its neighbouring countries of Niger and Burkina Faso. The security situation, particularly in the tri-border regions has further exacerbated the already alarming levels of food insecurity in some areas. According to IOM’s Data Tracking Matrix, almost 400,000 people are internally displaced in Mali. Many internally displaced persons have also been forced to flee several times, further exacerbating their vulnerability, with numerous threats at national borders.