Mali’s 2024 corruption perception index: struggles and regional context

Mali’s 2024 corruption perception index: where does the country stand?

The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) by Transparency International, released in February 2025, places Mali at the 136th position out of 180 countries, with a score of 28/100. This ranking underscores the persistent challenges Mali faces in combating corruption, a systemic issue that undermines governance and slows development.

Key challenges highlighted in the report

The latest CPI report points to a weakening of oversight institutions in Mali. Public procurement processes remain opaque, and public finance management continues to lack transparency, fostering a widespread perception of corruption.

Public administration is particularly affected, with essential services like justice, healthcare, and education often accessible only through favoritism or bribery. This environment erodes public trust in the state and perpetuates a culture of impunity among elites. Reports from the Central Office for Combating Illicit Enrichment (OCLEI) and the Office of the Auditor General further illustrate these concerns.

Corruption in West Africa: a regional perspective

Mali is not alone in its struggle. Several West African nations also recorded poor scores in the 2024 CPI, reflecting weakened governance and opaque financial systems.

• Nigeria, the region’s largest economy, scored 25/100, highlighting widespread embezzlement in sectors like oil.
• Burkina Faso, undergoing political transition, scored 30/100, failing to cross the critical 50-point threshold that separates corrupt from relatively clean governance.
• Ghana, however, stands out with a score of 43/100, though slightly lower than before, maintaining its status as one of the region’s more transparent nations.

Sub-Saharan Africa: a persistent struggle against corruption

With an average score of 32/100, Sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the world’s most corruption-affected regions. Over two-thirds of African countries scored below 50, signaling weak state capacity to tackle corruption effectively.

The report warns of the risks of misusing climate funds, as many African nations rely on international aid to address climate change. Without strict oversight, vulnerable populations may lose access to critical resources needed for adaptation.

Among the most corrupt nations in the region are:

• Somalia (11/100)
• South Sudan (13/100)
• Central African Republic (19/100)

Prolonged conflicts in these countries have further weakened institutions, exacerbating corruption.

Global leaders and laggards in corruption control

Globally, Nordic countries continue to lead in transparency and good governance. Denmark tops the list with a score of 90/100, followed by Finland (88/100) and Norway (87/100).

Canada (75/100) and Germany (79/100) also maintain high standards of public integrity, despite occasional controversies.

The five most corrupt nations globally include:

• Somalia (11/100)
• South Sudan (13/100)
• Syria (14/100)
• Venezuela (14/100)
• Yemen (16/100)

These countries suffer from civil wars, institutional collapse, and total impunity for corrupt actors.

Urgent calls for reform in Mali

The CPI report emphasizes the urgent need for Mali to strengthen its anti-corruption framework. Key recommendations include:

• Enhancing the legal framework to deter corrupt practices.
• Ensuring judicial independence to uphold accountability.
• Protecting whistleblowers to encourage reporting of wrongdoing.

Without concrete reforms, corruption will continue to weaken institutions, hinder development, and deepen public distrust in the state. Transparency International urges both national and international stakeholders to take decisive action to combat this scourge, which threatens Mali’s economic growth and political stability.