• Mali aims to leverage its mining sector to create jobs and foster youth entrepreneurship.

• More than 31% of young Malians remain outside employment, education, or training.

• Authorities promote local value chains to retain wealth from natural resources.

Mali seeks to transform its mineral wealth into a driver of social mobility and job creation. Authorities outlined this objective during the 11th edition of the Forum International de l’Entrepreneuriat du Mali held last week in Bamako.

The forum adopted the theme “Mines and entrepreneurship: creating sustainable local value chains.” Authorities stated that the theme reflects “the firm will to transform our natural resources into a powerful engine of economic development, by placing Malian entrepreneurs at the center of wealth creation.”

During the opening ceremony, Oumou Sall Seck presented a roadmap based on “economic patriotism.” The strategy focuses on four commitments: producing locally, transforming locally, consuming locally, and investing locally.

She asked, “Why continue to export our resources in raw form? Why allow value creation from our wealth to take place elsewhere?”

A national strategy to shift the growth model

To implement this vision, the government adopted a national entrepreneurship strategy. The plan aims to position Mali as an enterprise-driven economy by 2063.

The authorities structured the strategy around six priority areas, including improving the business environment, strengthening entrepreneurial culture, expanding access to financing, and promoting innovation.

Mali relies heavily on mining revenues. According to Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the extractive sector generated 644 billion CFA francs (about $1.13 billion) in revenue.

Gold dominates the sector. The country produced 65,910 kilograms of gold valued at 1,926 billion CFA francs, mainly in the regions of Kayes and Sikasso. Gold historically accounts for 75% of exports and more than 7% of GDP.

However, this economic weight does not translate into sufficient qualified and sustainable jobs for the population.

A youth population seeking opportunities

Mali faces significant social challenges. The INSTAT estimated the unemployment rate at 3.5% in 2024. However, this figure masks deeper structural issues.

The economy remains dominated by informal activity and subsistence agriculture, which employ a large share of the workforce under precarious conditions.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance reported that 163,777 people were unemployed in 2021–2022, representing 2.4% of the labor force. Women recorded a higher unemployment rate at 3.2%, compared with 1.2% for men.

Youth face even greater challenges. The unemployment rate among those aged 15–35 reached 3.6%, the highest among all age groups. According to Afrobarometer, one-quarter of Malians aged 18 to 35 live in extreme vulnerability without jobs, education, or training.

Moreover, the situation affects women disproportionately, with rates ranging from 42% to 45%, compared with between 1% and 7% for men.

Source: 2024 Labor Market Indicators Report

In this context, FIDEM 2026 raises a fundamental question about labor market integration in Mali, particularly for young people.

Ultimately, the outcome will depend on the country’s ability to train its workforce quickly, align skills with market needs, and deliver on policy commitments.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou