(Ecofin Agency) - Speaking at a debate organized by the Institute of Political Sciences, International Relations and Communication (ISPRIC), Mali’s minister of domains, Mohamed Ali Bathily bluntly accused mayors, judges and the territorial administration of being the main sources of land speculation in the country. “The jurisdictions take decisions that are best left unknown unless those who attended the law faculty and which should not be read by any person who truly did study law,” he affirmed.

“The mayor of Bamako and other municipalities do not have the authority to award lands without the government’s approval because they don’t own those lands; however, it appears they have given out all of Bamako’s lands without that authorization. The funniest part here is that these mayors are under the authority of the ministries in charge who take no action against such acts of violation of the law!” he added.

The official’s exasperation is understandable, given that land speculation put a significant pressure on State revenues. “It’s like land has no place in our economy and this impairs the nation’s access to loan from international institutions and major economies. In France, a property owner is rich because he can easily get a loan. Leaving bare lands without any legal protection is equal to economic abandonment. In 2015, individuals were able to raise 1,534 billion CFA by mortgaging land titles to banks; the State budget that year was 2 trillion: What’s the difference? This means that land deeds held by private individuals can help secure from banks a sum the size of Mali’s budget. This is clear proof that land has economic value. The real mystery however is that, given that 60% of our population are rural citizens who own the lands on which they live, who then are the owners of the titles mortgaged?,” the minister said.

Souha Touré