Problems
Causes of the water crisis in Mali
Mali is a landlocked country with vast deserts and a long dry-season where many people lack access to clean water and sanitation. It's one of the poorest countries in the world. Causes of the water crisis in Mali: ● Half of all water resources originate outside Mali, including the Niger and Senegal Rivers, which can impact domestic water security and freshwater availability varies significantly by region and across seasons, contributing to significant water shortages in some parts of the country, particularly in the northern Saharan and Sahelian zones. ● The highly variable inter-seasonal and inter-annual flow of the Niger River, combined with more frequent and severe droughts, have reduced dry season water availability in central and eastern Mali. ● Upstream irrigation and hydroelectric power generation are reducing downstream flows required to sustain river stages and flood levels critical to fluvial transportation, agriculture, fisheries, and viable dry season animal husbandry. ● Municipal solid waste, and effluents from mining, tanneries, and dyeing industries degrade water quality and ecosystems in the IND. ● Groundwater is the primary source for drinking water and domestic use nationally, however, insufficient groundwater quality monitoring and protection schemes increase public health risks, particularly in cities like Bamako. Pathogenic contamination in shallow aquifers is caused by poorly constructed and unprotected wells and infiltration of latrine waste. ● Data on chemical contamination is constrained due to limited groundwater quality testing. ● Staff capacity and funding constraints impede water resources management planning and implementation of basin and sub-basin water management plans and increase reliance on donor assistance.
Health effects of the water crisis in Mali
Water supply and sanitation in Mali is characterized by serious challenges. Chemical contaminants in surface water can bioaccumulate (especially lead) and affect public health, as fish-based diets represent a key pathway for toxin ingestion. Unclean water can lead to many diseases that are potentially fatal. Water supply issues lead to a variety of issues throughout the country. Childhood diarrhea is a waterborne disease and is a primary cause of death in the children population of Mali. Many studies have been conducted in order to reduce this problem, but the number of children dying from waterborne diseases in Mali has risen.
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Timelines
2026
February 27
The Malian government officially inaugurated a new strategic framework for water, hygiene, and sanitation spanning the next decade. The 2026–2035 Sustainability Pact is designed to build upon a decade of infrastructure gains while ensuring that essential services reach the country’s most vulnerable and rural populations through the year 2035. This new agreement succeeds the original 2014 pact, which yielded largely positive results. Recent evaluations of the first phase revealed that over 70% of rural water access indicators were met, and 84% of localities previously declared free of open defecation have successfully maintained that status. Despite these successes, the government noted that the 2026–2035 phase must aggressively tackle lingering challenges, specifically regarding the maintenance of aging infrastructure and the reduction of regional disparities in service quality. The 2026–2035 pact introduces a modernized approach to sector governance, focusing heavily on local-level planning, financial transparency, and climate resilience. By integrating climate concerns, Mali aims to protect its water sources against the increasing volatility of the regional environment. A new monitoring system, utilizing specific performance indicators, will be used to track progress toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6, which targets universal access to clean water and sanitation by 2030. Ultimately, Malian authorities view this pact as more than just a utility upgrade; it is a critical driver for public health and educational success. By prioritizing sanitation in rural schools and healthcare centers, the government aims to create a more resilient national foundation for the coming decade.
2025
Mali is facing a severe water and humanitarian crisis in 2025, driven by climate-induced droughts and floods, conflict, and collapsing infrastructure. Over 5.1 million people need assistance as of late 2025, with limited access to safe water causing disease, displacement, and increased vulnerability for rural communities. 47 recorded flood cases by October 2025, following catastrophic floods in 2024. Many communities rely on unsafe, hand-dug wells. Floods in 2025 damaged essential water infrastructure, affecting sanitation, though less severely than in 2024. In 2025, 814 incidents where access was hindered were recorded, up more than 40 per cent compared to 2024, when there were 574 such incidents. The crisis has intensified in central and northern regions, with water scarcity triggering displacement and community conflict.
2022
In view of the evolution of the political and security situation, France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs announced on the cessation of Official Development Assistance from France to Mali. Agence Française de Développement (AFD) thus suspended all of its activities in this country . Aid from the United States remains suspended pending free and fair elections.
2020
In August, military coup.
2019
UNICEF and partners provided water supply services to over 194,500 people and built water points and separated latrines in 95 schools and 61 health centers.
2015
In July-August, Mali affected of the floods. More hundreds of fields flooded. In support of the authorities, humanitarian actors have assisted thousands of affected people, in hygiene and water purification products, etc.
2012
With combined efforts from UN led organizations including Action Against Hunger and UNICEF, programs and surveys are being conducted and instilled in Mali to combat fallout from the drought.
2011
Mali was hit by severe drought.
