Mali

Protection Issues

Mali continues to face a complex crisis driven mainly by a volatile security environment and exacerbated by structural vulnerabilities, socio-economic challenges, and climate shocks. This crisis continues to generate severe humanitarian needs, particularly in areas affected by insecurity in the north, centre, and increasingly in parts of the south and west of the country. Armed violence, recurrent clashes, and blockade tactics imposed by non-state armed groups have severely restricted civilians' freedom of movement, limiting access to markets, agricultural land, essential services, and humanitarian assistance. Civilians continue to face serious protection risks, including forced displacement and evictions from villages, illegal taxation, looting of livestock and property, restrictions on livelihoods, conflict-related sexual violence, and other grave human rights violations. The increased use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and drones in recent months has further constrained humanitarian access and heightened risks to civilian movement. After years of conflict and insecurity, communities are also experiencing widespread psychological distress and emotional trauma, reflecting the cumulative impact of prolonged exposure to violence, displacement, loss, and uncertainty.