MALI COUNTRY PROFILE
Persecution of Christians is on the increase in Mali which now ranks fifth globally for terrorist activity behind Pakistan, Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria. 109 The border areas with Niger and Burkina Faso remain the most affected, accounting for nearly 75 percent of all attacks and fatalities in the landlocked country. Roughly 348,000 Christians, of which two-thirds are Catholic, make up 2.2 percent of the population. 110 In the past the relationship between Christians and Muslims was peaceful, but now some Christians face such severe persecution that they are unable to live in large sections of the country. According to the Center for Preventive Action, the continuing collapse of international counter-terrorism support, as well asweakening leadershipinregional efforts, has created a vacuum in which violent extremism is expanding. 111 Islamic extremists target Christians with violence, abductions and church burnings. Evangelical pastors and worshippers are especially vulnerable, often accused of being spies for the West. 112 The departure of the UN peacekeeping mission, ordered by Mali’s junta in June 2023, led to the collapse of a 2015 peace deal with Tuareg separatist rebels. In June 2025 the military government suspended political parties, contributing to fears of growing authoritarianism and political instability. 113 The government has revoked all educational partnership agreements with the dioceses, leaving many nuns — for whom this was their primary pastoral work — without any means of livelihood. Financial extortion of Christians and physical attacks are also common. The situation in Mali, which has been under a fuel blockade for months, is now extremely fragile politically, and there is reason to fear a regime change in favor of a “human-centerd Islamism” modeled closely on what Syria experienced after Assad’s fall, but this time with grave consequences for the Catholic Church. If Mali falls under the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood’s ideology it could mean the collapse of all AES (Alliance of Sahel States) governments and would have security implications for neighboring countries. 114
SELECTED INCIDENTS
AUGUST 2024 After Islamists seized control, Church leaders in Mopti were summoned to a meeting and given a week to accept Islamist rules or leave. The imposed rules included: all Christians including pastors to convert to Islam and help wage jihadic war; all men aged between 18 and 40 pay 5,000 CFA francs (US$8.70) each year; and both men and women dressing according to Islamic law. 115 OCTOBER 2024 Jihadists imposed a jizya tax of 25,000 CFA francs (US$43.50) on adult Christians in Douna- Pen village, threatening church closures if they refused or could not pay. 116
JANUARY 2025 Catholic schools faced uncertainty after the government announced subsidies covering 80 percent of teachers’ salaries would be ended. Church leaders warned the loss of funding for the schools that teach students from different religions together could undermine efforts to promote interfaith dialogue and peace. 117 NOVEMBER 2025 The Bishops’ Conference of Mali canceled the 54 th National Marian Pilgrimage to Kita due to jihadist group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin’s blockade of the capital, Bamako. 118
24 | Persecuted and Forgotten?
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