Mali’s 2025 anti-corruption week: empowering youth and judicial rigor

The National Anti-Corruption Week, for its 2025 edition, was officially inaugurated on December 9, 2025, in Bamako by the Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Mamoudou Kassogué. This significant event, established to inform the public about anti-corruption efforts, reiterated the previous year’s central theme: « Uniting with youth against corruption: shaping tomorrow’s integrity ».

In his address, Minister Kassogué emphasized the urgent necessity for a collective mobilization against the “immeasurable” repercussions of corruption. He referenced former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who described corruption as an “insidious evil” that erodes democracy, undermines the rule of law, and facilitates organized crime and terrorism.

🎯 a transitional government priority

The commemoration of this International Day (designated by the UN on December 9th) serves as a powerful testament to the political will of the highest Transitional Authorities, particularly General of the Army Assimi Goïta, to wage an “unyielding and irreversible” campaign against this scourge.

This week-long initiative is an integral component of the broader state rebuilding process, which demands a fundamental shift in paradigms for public affairs management and the cultivation of citizens embodying values of integrity and patriotism.

youth: spearheading transformative change

The chosen theme underscores the generational responsibility of Malian youth, who are expected to be the “spearhead” in overcoming resistance and guiding the change process. Minister Kassogué applauded the “remarkable” engagement of youth movements in this vital cause.

🛡️ judicial response: pnef and argasc for deterrence

The Ministry of Justice unequivocally reaffirms its steadfast commitment to implementing judicial reforms designed to bolster the effectiveness of combating economic and financial delinquency:

• The national economic and financial hub (PNEF): aims to prosecute financial offenders by employing modern techniques and resources.

• The agency for the recovery and management of seized or confiscated assets (ARGASC): focuses on the recovery of substantial funds and assets that have been fraudulently siphoned from the state’s patrimony.

a powerful deterrent: « The combined efforts of the PNEF and ARGASC will significantly bolster the deterrent effect against corruption and economic and financial delinquency, ensuring that the proceeds of crime can no longer benefit the perpetrator. »

innovations within the new penal code

New provisions are set to strengthen judicial action, notably including:

• The imprescriptibility of criminal offenses related to economic and financial delinquency involving public assets.

• The elimination of parliamentary privileges and immunities.

• Enhanced protection for whistleblowers, witnesses, experts, and victims.

modernization tools in action

Additional tools are currently being rolled out to optimize this crucial fight:

• The free hotline « Binkani Kunafoni » (3611), made available to citizens for reporting corrupt practices.

• The imminent operationalization of the judicial IT platform, following a successful test phase, for the dematerialization of judicial files and combating corrupt activities.

🤝 call for inter-institutional coordination

The Minister highlighted the essential need for enhanced collaboration and cooperation among the various state structures with complementary mandates, including:

• The central office for the fight against illicit enrichment (OCLEI).

• The office of the auditor general (BVG).

• The court of accounts (established from the former accounts section of the Supreme Court after the adoption of the 2023 Constitution).

He reaffirmed that the project to establish a framework for consultation and coordination among all these entities would be pursued “as swiftly as possible.”