Mali has rejected US aid claims and is calling for accountability on misused funds. The country’s ministry emphasized that Mali has long opposed the misuse of foreign aid, which can be used as a tool for “destabilization, subversion, and the financing of terrorist networks.”
In line with the vision of the Malian Transition President, the government has refused to sign the US five-year Development Grant Agreement, which funds projects under the US Agency for International Development (USAID). This decision was made to ensure that cooperation agreements respect the sovereignty of the Malian state, the choices of its people, and the country’s national interests.
The ministry welcomed the US authorities’ new stance on reforming their foreign aid policies and acknowledged efforts to curb the misuse of funds. However, Mali is calling on Washington to prosecute those responsible for diverting aid money to finance international terrorism, which has affected Mali and other member states of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Mali’s government reaffirmed its commitment to national security, peacebuilding, social cohesion, and sustainable development through a nationally driven approach that respects sovereignty, fosters mutual partnership, and aligns with the framework of the AES confederation.