The Malian government is preparing a reform of the legal framework for microfinance to protect popular savings and reinvigorate a rapidly growing sector.
The announcement was made on September 18 in New York and made public on September 23, 2025.
The Malian government is preparing a reform of the legal framework for microfinance. The announcement made on September 18 in New York was only made public on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, confirming Bamako’s
commitment to protecting savers and reinvigorating a rapidly expanding sector.
As of December 31, 2024, Mali had 116 licensed microfinance institutions with 1,586,814 clients. Outstanding deposits reached 158 billion CFA francs and outstanding loans 191 billion, according to the Professional Association of Decentralized Financial Systems. In 2023, the country had nearly 140 institutions, but several licenses were withdrawn for non-compliance, bringing this number down to 116.
Data from previous years show steady growth. In 2022, deposits amounted to approximately 145 billion CFA francs and loans to 170 billion, compared to 158 billion and 191 billion two years later. This growth illustrates the importance of the sector, which represents more than 2 percent of GDP and approximately 5 percent of savings collected in the formal financial system.
The government has already strengthened national supervision by transforming the MFI Control and Surveillance Unit into the Microfinance Directorate. The draft law is intended to align the national framework with WAEMU standards, similar to the texts adopted in 2025 in Burkina Faso and Benin. At the regional level, the BCEAO
listed 533 microfinance institutions at the end of 2024, with deposits exceeding 2.3 trillion CFA francs and loans exceeding 2.7 trillion CFA francs. Mali thus represents nearly 10 to 12 percent of the union’s deposits and loans, making it one of the region’s significant markets.
The reform project comes as Mali’s budget deficit is projected to reach 3.4 percent of GDP in 2025, compared to 4.3 percent in 2024. The authorities affirm their desire to secure popular savings, combat unlicensed operators, and strengthen prudential governance.
Microfinance plays a key role in financing agriculture, trade, and services, key sectors for the Malian economy and for rural households.
MD/ac/Sf/fss/as/APA