Mali

Mali remains the epicentre of the protracted crisis in the Central Sahel, with growing displacement due to continuing insecurity, communal conflict and extreme weather events. The number of refugees and asylum-seekers in Mali reached about 138,500 registered individuals from neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso – who have been granted refugee status without individual determination as of 30 June 2025, while over 89,000 others require registration. At the same time, over 334,000 Malian are refugees in asylum countries, while some 400,000 Malians remain internally displaced within Mali.

UNHCR’s response in Mali focuses on providing pressing protection needs and on pursuing durable solutions through voluntary returns, reintegration, and local integration where feasible. The Agency supports asylum processes, helps strengthen national legal frameworks in line with international standards, and continues to advocate for the domestication of the Kampala Convention.

The Mali 2023–2026 strategy aligns with national and UN frameworks, aiming to reduce protection risks, empower communities, and advance sustainable solutions. Rooted in the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus, the strategy promotes community-based approaches, strengthens regional cooperation, and seeks to ensure inclusion of displaced and stateless persons in national development plans. UNHCR requires about $85.5 million for the response in Mali and following staggering budgetary deficits, has reprioritized, focusing on life-saving activities such as emergency responses that prioritize registration and documentation, followed by ad-hoc assistance for food, non-food items, shelter, health, water, sanitation and hygiene services.