Mali and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are preparing to negotiate a multi-year financing programme after a five-day mission to Bamako ended on 9 October.
The IMF delegation, which visited from 5 to 9 October, assessed the country’s economic outlook and the conditions for a potential Extended Credit Facility (ECF), according to Mali’s Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Discussions covered economic growth, inflation, public finances, the banking sector and external accounts. Further exchanges of information and videoconferences are expected to pave the way for formal negotiations.
An ECF agreement would provide Mali with access to concessional financing in exchange for economic reforms, subject to periodic IMF reviews and approval by its executive board.
The discussions follow the completion of a staff-monitored programme launched in March 2025. In March 2026, the IMF approved its final review, citing progress on targets including tax revenue digitalisation and public financial management. The Fund also called on Mali to strengthen revenue collection while protecting social spending and public investment.
