E-Government Development in Mali

The Agency for Information and Communication Technologies (AGETIC) is the public body responsible for driving the development of e-government in Mali. Established under Law No. 05-002, it plays a key role in implementing the national digital strategy.

AGETIC coordinates ICT-related initiatives, designs and maintains digital infrastructure for public services, develops training programs for the public sector, and manages the national domain name (.ml). It also works to expand access to digital technologies across the population and forges partnerships at regional, continental, and international levels.

As part of its mandate, AGETIC oversees intergovernmental digital systems accessible through the Public Administration Digital Portal. However, the services available tend to focus more on internal administrative management than on tools for citizens. The agency also manages the public service website Démarches Administratives, which remains non-functional at this stage.

The Mali Numérique 2020 strategy, introduced in 2015 by the Ministry of Communication and the Digital Economy (MCEN), envisioned an institutional framework to guide the e-government program, with a central interministerial committee chaired by the Prime Minister. To date, however, these bodies have not been fully established, and no updated strategy for public sector digitalization is currently in place.

On the other hand, Decree No. 2017-0872 created a Steering Committee for the development of the Internet Exchange Point. This committee is responsible for setting strategic direction, validating key project milestones, and overseeing both technical and financial progress. Chaired by the minister in charge of ICT or their representative, it includes members from the Malian Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Post (AMRTP), AGETIC, telecom operators, internet service providers, and other public and private stakeholders.

Other public institutions are also involved at various levels. The National Directorate for the Digital Economy (DNEN), established under Law No. 2017-061, oversees digital transformation within the economic sector. Additionally, certain bodies are tasked with digitizing specific areas where Mali has made notable progress in e-governance — such as health, through the National Telehealth and Medical Informatics Agency (ANTIM), and public finance, through the Support Unit for the Digitalization of Tax and Financial Services (CAISFF).

According to Ordinance No. 2011-024/P-RM, the Malian Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Post (AMRTP) is an independent administrative body, with legal personality and financial autonomy. While some of its administrative and institutional functions remain under the supervision of the relevant ministry, the authority exercises genuine independence in its regulatory decisions.

AMRTP is responsible for regulating the telecommunications and postal sectors. Its duties include promoting fair competition, issuing licenses, managing resources such as radio frequencies and numbering, and ensuring operators meet their obligations. It also contributes to user protection, supports the development of universal service, monitors technological trends, and maintains active cooperation with both national and international institutions. Each year, it publishes a detailed report on its activities, ensuring the sector is governed with transparency and accountability.

Cybersecurity/Cybercrime Law

Law No. 2019-056 on the suppression of cybercrime

Adopted as part of regional harmonization efforts, Law No. 2019-056 of December 5, 2019, transposes Directive C/DIR/1/08/11 of August 19, 2011, on combating cybercrime within the ECOWAS region. It establishes legal provisions for prosecuting offenses involving the use of information and communication technologies in Mali. The law defines crimes such as system and data breaches, computer fraud, online child pornography, and the remote use of malicious software. It also outlines procedures for digital searches and seizures, real-time traffic data collection, and the interception of digital content. In addition, it specifies criminal liability, applicable penalties, and supplementary sanctions.

Data Privacy Law

Law No. 2013-015 on the protection of personal data in the Republic of Mali

Law No. 2013-015 governs the processing of personal data in Mali to ensure that it respects individual rights and freedoms. It applies to all persons—natural or legal, public or private—operating within the national territory. The law grants individuals specific rights, including access, rectification, objection, and erasure of their data. It prohibits automated decisions with legal effects based solely on profiling. Data controllers are required to ensure the security, confidentiality, and lawfulness of their processing activities and, except in certain cases, must declare them to the Data Protection Authority (APDP). The APDP is responsible for enforcing the law, informing users, monitoring stakeholders, and may impose sanctions in case of non-compliance.

This legal framework is supported by a series of APDP decisions that detail how the law should be applied. Decision No. 2020-034 establishes security and confidentiality standards for data processing. Decision No. 2020-118 introduces the role of Data Protection Officer (CPD) within certain organizations. Decision No. 2021-081 defines the conditions under which individuals and public or private entities may process data. Finally, Decision No. 2023-0317 regulates data processing within professional whistleblowing systems.

E-Government Standards

In Mali, some laws define the responsibilities of specific public institutions, but there is no dedicated legal framework governing e-governance standards.

E-Government Interoperability Framework

To date, no formal legislation has been adopted in Mali to define the interoperability framework for e-governance.

Electronic Signature Law

Law No. 2016-012 on electronic transactions, exchanges, and services

Under Title VII, Chapter I, Section 2 of this law, electronic signatures are legally recognized in Mali when they authenticate the signer’s identity and confirm their consent to the content of the document, provided they meet a sufficient level of reliability. When specific technical criteria are met—such as the use of a qualified certificate and a secure creation device—the signature is considered equivalent to a handwritten one. The law also states that an electronic signature cannot be dismissed on formal grounds, even if it does not rely on a qualified certificate. Specific requirements govern the creation and verification devices to ensure the integrity, security, and traceability of electronic signatures. The development of this technology falls under the responsibility of the Electronic Certification and Signature Service, established by Decree No. 2019-037.

AI Regulations

Ordinance No. 2023-022/PT-RM establishing the Malian Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

Although Mali does not yet have a specific law governing the use of artificial intelligence, the country has established the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, a public institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Scientific Research. Led by a director appointed by the Council of Ministers, the center focuses on research, training, and innovation in these fields. It conducts scientific projects, builds national and international partnerships, supports the local tech ecosystem, and develops practical solutions to societal and environmental challenges. The center also promotes greater inclusion of women in these strategic sectors.

Mali currently lacks an updated national strategy for the development of information and communication technologies (ICT) and the digitalization of public administration. The most recent strategic framework in this area remains Mali Numérique 2020, developed in 2015 by the Ministry of Digital Economy, Information and Communication (MENIC).

Mali Numérique 2020 aims to position digital technology as a driver of economic and social transformation by fully integrating ICT into both public and private activities. One of its main objectives is to increase the value generated by information, seen as a key factor for productivity and competitiveness.

A core component of the strategy focuses on improving the efficiency of public administration. In a context of high public spending, the development of e-government is viewed as a means to streamline costs and modernize services. The introduction of automated and paperless procedures enables smoother, more transparent, and more accessible public services. It also serves as a tool for fighting corruption by limiting direct contact between citizens and state agents. For example, electronic tax filing would enable more efficient revenue collection while simplifying processes for businesses. Similarly, the digitalization of land administration procedures — such as acquiring permits, titles, or authorizations — marks a step toward a more responsive and fair administration.

The strategy set out clear targets to support this transformation: connect 80% of public institutions by 2020 (up from 56% in 2015), offer 50 public services online, and improve Mali’s UN e-government index from 0.16 to 0.3. No public report has been released on the outcomes of the strategy by the 2020 deadline. However, as of 2025, these targets appear to have been achieved.

Although there is still no updated national strategy, on March 25, 2025, the Malian government launched the Mali Digital Accelerator program, an initiative aimed at boosting the country’s tech ecosystem. The program seeks to support Malian start-ups through tailored assistance, strategic funding, and easier access to markets. Its ambition is to foster homegrown digital champions and establish Mali as a regional player in the digital space.

This initiative reflects the authorities’ broader intent to make digital technology a lever for economic growth, administrative modernization, and job creation. The program is designed to address key challenges faced by sector stakeholders, including limited access to funding, lack of structured mentorship, and barriers to technological infrastructure.

However, despite its launch event, the program has yet to be implemented, and no official document detailing its components is publicly available as of now.

The secure biometric national identity card was established and regulated by Decree No. 2022-0639/PT-RM, in accordance with the standards of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It replaces the former national identity card, consular card, and the National Identification Number (NINA) card.

Administered by the Ministry of Security, the card is designed to strengthen the reliability of citizen identification through a modern and centralized management system. It includes the NINA number, the electronic signature of the competent minister, and various personal and biometric data.

In February 2024, the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization announced the state’s renewed control over the IT system managing civil registry data and the launch of MALI KURA BIOMÉTRIE, a new national platform for administrative census data management. Entirely developed by Malian experts, the platform aims to enhance data security, improve the reliability of administrative documents, and ensure full sovereignty over identification systems. However, the platform is not yet available for public access.

In Mali, the primary authority responsible for tax administration is the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI), operating under the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The DGI consists of 7 Units, 5 Central Directorates, and decentralized services, including the Bamako District Tax Directorate (with 2 CIMES and one local tax center per commune) and 11 Regional Directorates, each overseeing one tax center per administrative district (Cercle). In this structure, the Support Unit for the Digitalization of Tax and Financial Services (CAISFF) plays a key role by overseeing the digitization of financial and tax-related services.

As part of efforts to modernize and streamline tax procedures, the DGI launched the E-Impôt platform in 2019, allowing taxpayers to fulfill their tax obligations online. Access to this secure portal requires a user ID or email address along with a personal password.

Source: E-Impôt

Additionally, Mali has a platform titled e-quitus, dedicated to issuing tax clearance certificates.

Source: e-quitus

The Education Portal, developed in partnership with USAID, UNICEF, and UNESCO, offers a wide range of online services, though access to many of them remains limited in practice.

Source: Ministry of Education

Key information on exams, competitive tests, and their results is published on the website of the National Center for Education Exams and Competitions (CNECE). However, candidates’ personal data appear on the site without protection or encryption.

The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the shift toward distance learning. In 2020, the Ministry of National Education, Higher Education, and Scientific Research adopted a strategy to ensure continuity of education during school closures. It relied on the creation of adapted learning materials and their distribution through radio, television, the internet, and mobile phones.

Reports on the outcomes of this strategy are not publicly available. However, an online training program, IFADEM, was developed during the pandemic by the Ministry of Education through the Francophone Institute for Education and Training. According to the information provided on its dedicated website, the program is fully online and implemented by the National Directorate for Teacher Training (DNEN). It is based on self-learning materials developed under the IFADEM program in Mali. The training path includes approximately 200 hours of instruction spread over 25 weeks. Currently, 11 courses are available on the platform.

Details about the non-governmental distance learning platform “So Kalan: my classroom at home,” launched in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, can also be found online. However, the platform is not currently accessible.

The use of information and communication technologies in Mali’s health sector is relatively more advanced than in other areas of public service, although access for citizens remains limited. Public health services currently do not offer a fully functional system for booking medical appointments, either online or in person. The website of the Hospital of Mali displays this option, but the feature does not appear to be operational. In contrast, private initiatives such as Doctix—a locally developed platform used in several countries—make online medical consultations accessible.

In a decentralized health system where the distribution of medical personnel, equipment, electricity, and connectivity remains uneven, telemedicine solutions have emerged as a relevant way to expand access to care in underserved areas.

Over the past decades, the Malian government, in partnership with international stakeholders—particularly United Nations agencies and U.S. and Canadian development agencies—has implemented several sector-specific digital initiatives. These include the deployment of the open-source hospital information system OpenClinic GA with support from Global Affairs Canada, the implementation of the DHIS2 system with assistance from USAID, and the SanDi (Digital Health) project, developed in collaboration with UNDP and the University of Sherbrooke in Canada.

This momentum was strengthened in 2024 with the adoption of the National Digital Health Strategic Plan (PSNSN) 2024–2028, developed with the support of WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, the World Bank, and USAID. Coordinated by the National Telehealth and Medical Informatics Agency (ANTIM), the plan aims to integrate digital technologies at every level of the health system. It includes the creation of a national digital health environment, the rollout of telemedicine services, modernization of health infrastructure, and the enhancement of staff skills, system interoperability, and resource mobilization.

The use of information and communication technologies in the justice sector remains very limited in Mali. The Ministry of Justice website provides information on certain procedures, such as acquiring nationality or changing one’s name, along with a few indicators related to the functioning of the sector. However, online service delivery or access to open data is not currently available.

In January 2025, the Ministry of Communication, Digital Economy, and Administrative Modernization announced the launch of the Integrated Judicial Case Management System (SIG-DJ). This platform is intended to simplify citizens’ access to various judicial services, including the issuance of criminal records, nationality certificates, and other official documents.

Interinstitutional communication relies primarily on the Public Administration Digital Portal. Access to all available services requires prior authentication through a user account.

Source: Portail Numérique de l’Administration Publique

In the health sector, the DHIS2 platform has been deployed; however, the publicly accessible information does not allow for a clear assessment of its level of adoption or operational effectiveness.

e-Procurement

The Integrated Public Procurement Management System (SIGMAP) is Mali’s main digital tool for managing public procurement. Implemented by the General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGMP) with support from CAISFF, the system enables centralized, secure, and efficient oversight of procurement and contract execution procedures. While it contributes to greater transparency and improved timeline control, the system does not yet incorporate program-based budgeting, making its upgrade a priority for the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Business Registration System

In the area of business and company registration, an electronic business registration portal was launched with support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Source : Guichet électronique de création d’entreprise

Guichet Unique for Foreign Trade

The Electronic Single Window for Foreign Trade and Transport (GUECET) is referenced in several sources, but it is not currently accessible to the public.

The main driver of innovation in artificial intelligence in Mali is the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, a public institution under the supervision of the ministry responsible for scientific research. In addition to its AI research activities, the Center develops technological solutions across various fields. Three projects are currently featured on its website.

1. The first project, titled “Generative AI for Education in Mali,” is described as an innovative initiative using artificial intelligence to create engaging educational materials in Bamanankan (Bambara) for Malian children.
2. The second project, Yelenkoura (“new light”), is presented as an electronic device shaped like a flashlight, designed to help blind individuals move independently without external assistance.
3. The third, Bayɛlɛmabaga, is a collaborative initiative focused on applying natural language processing (NLP) techniques to the Bambara language, with the long-term goal of extending this approach to all national languages of Mali.

However, the Center’s website does not provide detailed documentation on these projects, and the link associated with Yelenkoura leads to a page unrelated to the device.

The availability of digital services aimed at citizens is limited, with most solutions focused primarily on internal exchanges between public institutions.

The lack of open data hinders both the accurate assessment of the level of digitalization and the development of artificial intelligence solutions adapted to the local context.

Establishment of a dedicated legal framework for e-governance standards and the e-governance interoperability framework.

Expanded deployment of artificial intelligence, particularly to make online public services more accessible and easier to understand for citizens.

National Best Practices

Digital modernization of tax administration

The General Directorate of Taxes (DGI) in Mali stands out for its structured organization and broad territorial coverage, with regional directorates across the country and a presence in every administrative district (cercle). It also benefits from dedicated digitalization support through CAISFF, which has enabled significant progress in service modernization. Since 2019, taxpayers have been able to fulfill their tax obligations online via the secure E-Impôt platform. In addition, another platform, e-quitus, facilitates the digital issuance of tax clearance certificates, helping to simplify administrative procedures.

Digitalization of the health sector

Mali has launched several key initiatives in digital health, in collaboration with international partners. The open-source system OpenClinic GA, deployed with support from Global Affairs Canada, has improved the management of hospital information. The DHIS2 system, implemented with support from USAID, now serves as the national platform for collecting and managing health data, supporting report consolidation and epidemiological analysis. The SanDi (Digital Health) project, developed in partnership with UNDP and the University of Sherbrooke, illustrates an integrated approach to digital transformation in the sector, focusing on strengthening local capacity and tailoring technology to on-the-ground needs.

Regional Inspirations

FarmStack Platform – Ethiopia

In 2021, the organization Digital Green introduced the FarmStack platform in Ethiopia, an open-source tool designed to promote data exchange within the agricultural ecosystem. Developed under the Digital Agricultural Advisory Services (DAAS) initiative, this solution aims to strengthen coordination among stakeholders in the agri-food sector and improve access to information for farmers and institutional actors. The platform is based on application programming interfaces (APIs) and integrations with CKAN to enable data sharing between public institutions, non-governmental organizations, and producers. It also functions as a centralized repository for content from specialized organizations such as the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) or Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture.

eWakili Platform – Tanzania

Tanzania has launched the eWakili platform, developed by the judiciary to modernize the management of legal professions. This system allows legal professionals to submit applications for bar admission and renew their lawyer status online. The platform, accessible only to judicial staff and authorized lawyers, centralizes application data and manages the national registry of lawyers. It also improves system transparency by allowing the public to verify a lawyer’s status using their name or registration number.

Authors:

Pavel Bianki

Daria Sukhova