Mali's 2026 Budget Prioritizes Defense, Security, and Economic Recovery
Mali's 2026 budget, adopted in early December, projects revenues of approximately 3,057.8 billion FCFA and expenditures of 3,578.2 billion FCFA, resulting in a deficit of about 520.4 billion FCFA. This budget emphasizes defense and internal security as key spending priorities amid ongoing security threats.
The Ministry of Defense is allocated around 531.21 billion FCFA, while internal security receives 192.5 billion FCFA. A special plan to clear domestic arrears of about 312 billion FCFA has been initiated to improve cash flow and support public investment projects.
The private sector is expected to see improved cash flow and investment activity as payment delays are normalized. Additionally, the newly inaugurated BCID-AES bank in Bamako aims to support infrastructure and energy projects with an initial capital of 500 billion FCFA. Overall, Mali anticipates an economic recovery with a projected growth rate of 5.5% in 2026, contingent on maintaining budget discipline and addressing external financial pressures.
