Mali’s Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has revealed significant financial and governance anomalies at the Agency for the Promotion of Youth Employment (APEJ), stemming from an audit covering the period between 2020 and March 31, 2025.
The audit report, released this Monday, identified non-compliant expenditures totaling 840.5 million CFA francs (approximately $1.35 million). Less than 20 million CFA francs of this amount was corrected after the verification.
Irregularities noted in the report include a range of serious financial misconduct: The granting of undue benefits (totaling 663 million CFA francs). Unjustified payments for session allowances. Public contracts that were improperly awarded. Unauthorized donations financed by the agency’s social fund. Fictitious accounting entries.
Beyond the misuse of funds, the OAG highlighted severe failings in internal governance. The APEJ’s Board of Directors reportedly adopted irregular budgets, no official auditor was appointed for several fiscal years, and numerous transactions were carried out without proper supporting documentation, violating public accounting principles.
Following these findings, the OAG has formally referred the case to the Prosecutor of the Economic and Financial Division and the President of the Supreme Court’s Accounts Section. The report explicitly states that the identified facts may constitute violations of budgetary and financial laws, making further processing the responsibility of the competent judicial authorities.
The APEJ, established in 2003, is vital to implementing national youth employment policy and is responsible for supporting the economic integration of young Malians. This new audit is part of a broader government effort to strengthen public governance and promote transparency in the use of state funds.
MD/te/fss/abj/APA