Mali: sanctions and trade risk

Sanctions programmeEU, UK and US targeted sanctions (asset freezes, travel bans).

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 31 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Mali.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

A sanctions programme concerning Mali is in force — typically an arms embargo or targeted measures against listed persons and entities. Ordinary civilian goods are usually not restricted; arms, related material and listed parties are.

Sources: EU Sanctions Map — Mali (2 Dec 2025) · UK FCDO — Current UK sanctions regimes (25 Mar 2026) · OFAC — Sanctions Programs and Country Information (active programs) (24 Oct 2026) · reviewed 24 Oct 2026

Check a shipment to Mali →

By sanctions regime

The indicator above is the strictest of these. Which regimes are relevant to a shipment depends on many connections — dispatch country, company location, incorporation, nationality, ownership, banks, goods origin. The check selects them from your inputs in a simplified way; UN measures take effect through each country's implementing law.

Regime	Indicator	What applies
UN	—	No UN sanctions regime.
EU	Sanctions programme	Targeted listings.
Switzerland	—	No measures against the country itself.
UK	Sanctions programme	UK Mali regime.
US	Sanctions programme	US Mali-related programme.

On the sanctions lists

31 entries on the official lists name Mali — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.

List	Entries	Companies & organisations	Vessels	Aircraft
UK Sanctions List (FCDO)	9	9	—	—
Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List	6	6	—	—
UN Security Council Consolidated List	6	6	—	—
EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF)	6	6	—	—
US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN)	4	4	—	—

Latest changes

No new listings or removals naming Mali recorded yet.

All updates →

All sanctioned countries compared by regime

Logistics profile

Mali: logistics and trade

Landlocked country / West African transit corridor / gold exporter

Mali (ISO code ML) is a landlocked country in West Africa, governed by a transitional military-led regime under junta leader Assimi Goïta since the coups of 2020 and 2021. The climate is mostly arid to semi-arid with distinct rainy and dry seasons. The economy relies on agriculture, mining (above all gold) and services, and the country is heavily import-dependent, especially for fuel, food and industrial goods. Mali belongs to the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) using the CFA franc (XOF) with an 18 percent VAT; in 2025 it left ECOWAS together with Burkina Faso and Niger and forms the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). As a landlocked state Mali depends on neighbouring seaports, mainly Dakar and Abidjan, through which most foreign trade moves by truck. The Niger river and the rail line to Dakar play only a secondary role. Despite infrastructure and security challenges, Mali remains an important transit country for regional trade connectivity.

Capital: Bamako
Population: 24,478,595
Area: 1,240,192 km²
Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF)
Continent: Africa
Region: West Africa / Sahel
Economic area: UEMOA / AES (outside ECOWAS since 2025)
Religions: Islam, Christianity
Access to the sea: Landlocked

Transport modes Road · Inland waterway · Rail

Current situation: Since September 2025 JNIM blockade of fuel convoys; shortages and power outages in Bamako. Government builds 45-day fuel reserve. As of 06/2026.
Seasonal conditions: Rainy season June to September affects tracks and Niger river navigation; dry season with Harmattan dust. Heat strains cold chains.

Road corridors

Bamako-Dakar
Bamako-Abidjan
Bamako-Lomé
Bamako-Conakry
Bamako-Niamey

Rail corridors

Dakar-Niger railway (Bamako-Kayes-Dakar), largely out of service

Inland ports

Koulikoro (Niger)
Mopti (Niger)

Main trade lanes

Dakar-Bamako (main axis, over 50 percent of foreign trade)
Abidjan-Bamako
Lomé-Bamako

Customs and import

Customs authority Direction Générale des Douanes (DGD)Official website ↗

Import customs system: SYDONIA World; UEMOA customs code with common external tariff (TEC 0/5/10/20 percent). Additionally AES solidarity levy 0,5 percent on imports from outside the AES (since 28.3.2025).
Export customs system: Electronic clearance via SYDONIA World at the DGD; exports are generally exempt from VAT (TVA).
Import VAT: Standard import VAT rate 18 percent on customs value (Code général des impôts, DGI); additionally AES levy 0,5 percent. Collection at the border by the DGD.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: UEMOA-origin goods duty-free; despite ECOWAS withdrawal (29.1.2025), ECOWAS still grants AES goods SLEC preference. EU market access duty-free as LDC (Everything But Arms, REX).
Restricted and prohibited goods: Licence required for, among others, weapons, ammunition, explosives, narcotics and certain chemicals; ban on counterfeit goods and hazardous waste (UEMOA / national customs code).

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Transport document (CMR / Bill of Lading / Air Waybill)
Packing list
Customs declaration (SYDONIA World)
Certificate of origin (if preference applies)
Import licence / Intention d'importation
Proof of insurance

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Export declaration (SYDONIA World)
Certificate of origin (UEMOA / EUR.1 or REX)
Phytosanitary certificate (agricultural products)
Export permit (for gold and restricted goods)

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: High
Customs delays: High
Dangerous goods relevance: Medium
Pharma and cold chain relevance: Medium
E-commerce relevance: Low to medium

Trade

Top import partners

Senegal Côte d'Ivoire China France India

Top export partners

Switzerland India China United Arab Emirates South Africa

Top import goods

Petroleum products
Machinery
Vehicles
Food
Chemicals

Top export goods

Gold
Cotton
Livestock
Agricultural products

Typical cargo

Gold
Cotton
Petroleum products
Machinery
Vehicles
Foodstuffs

Logistics questions

What import taxes apply in Mali?

On imports Mali levies VAT at a standard rate of 18 percent on the customs value (General Tax Code of the Direction Générale des Impôts). On top of this come the WAEMU common external tariff (bands of 0, 5, 10 and 20 percent) and, since 28 March 2025, the AES solidarity levy of 0.5 percent on imports from countries outside the AES.

Which customs system and authority apply in Mali?

The responsible body is the Direction Générale des Douanes (DGD). Clearance is electronic via SYDONIA World based on the WAEMU customs code. The customs value is determined on a CIF basis under GATT rules.

Mali is landlocked - which seaports handle its cargo?

Mali has no seaports of its own. Most foreign trade moves by truck through the ports of neighbouring countries, mainly Dakar (Senegal) and Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire); Lomé, Tema and Conakry are used in addition. More than half of Mali's foreign trade passes through Dakar.

What do the ECOWAS exit and the AES mean for trade?

Together with Burkina Faso and Niger, Mali left ECOWAS on 29 January 2025 and forms the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). ECOWAS nonetheless continues to grant goods from the three countries the preferential treatment of its trade liberalisation scheme (SLEC). Mali also remains a WAEMU member with the CFA franc and the common external tariff.

What is the AES 0.5 percent solidarity levy?

On 28 March 2025 the AES College of Heads of State introduced a confederal solidarity levy of 0.5 percent on the customs value. It is collected by the customs administrations on imports from countries outside the AES and finances joint projects. Goods of AES origin, diplomatic goods and humanitarian aid are exempt.

What is the current logistics and security situation?

The security situation is fragile. Since September 2025 the jihadist group JNIM has been blockading fuel convoys from Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Niger, causing shortages and power cuts in Bamako. The government is building a national fuel reserve covering about 45 days. As of June 2026 supply partly relies on a negotiated truce.

Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗