The Malian government has adopted two new draft laws aimed at strengthening the country’s response to human trafficking and the smuggling of migrants.
The reform builds on existing legislation at a time when recent figures point to hundreds of victims.
Meeting at the Koulouba Palace, the Malian executive branch on Wednesday moved to bolster its legal framework by approving the two draft bills.
Officials said the changes are needed to address gaps identified in current laws and to bring national legislation more closely in line with Mali’s international commitments.
The country already had a solid legal foundation in this area.
The 2023 Constitution explicitly protects children from trafficking and bans slavery as well as inhuman and degrading treatment.
This is supported by the July 2012 law on combating human trafficking and similar practices, along with the 2011 decree that established the National Coordination Committee responsible for monitoring the phenomenon.
The framework was further strengthened by the 2024 Penal Code, which includes specific provisions on human trafficking and migrant smuggling, carrying penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines amounting to several million CFA francs.
The 2024 Code of Criminal Procedure also sets out tailored mechanisms for investigating and prosecuting transnational offences.
The latest reform comes as the situation remains deeply worrying. According to the most recent national report released in 2025, Malian authorities recorded 629 victims of human trafficking in 2024, including 40 percent women and 53 percent children.
Competent services also assisted more than 800 migrants who had suffered degrading treatment, while 93 investigation files were opened during the same period.
The challenge for Bamako now is to turn this strengthened legal arsenal into tangible results on the ground, in a regional context marked by rising migratory flows and the continued activity of criminal networks.
MD/te/Sf/lb/jn/APA