On Wednesday, April 16, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that it would immediately disburse $129 million in emergency funds to help Mali recover from the floods that hit the Sahelian country last September.

Mali was affected by major floods in September and October 2024. The natural disaster left at least 75 people dead and more than 250,000 people affected. In a statement, the Fund said that the floods created “significant damage to infrastructure, agriculture and livelihoods. These challenges add to pre-existing pressures due to security conditions and widespread food insecurity, weighing even more on growth.”

The Malian authorities are committed to launching a series of reforms in response to the aid package, which is to last 11 months. These include the strengthening of its tax administration and an expansion of its tax base in order to improve state revenues. The authorities also plan to improve the functioning of several public services, starting with the public energy company Energie du Mali (EDM), with strengthened controls. According to the Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, Kenji Okamura, “the majority of the challenges facing the Malian economy are expected to continue this year and the recent announcements of cuts in development aid spending (in advanced economies, editor's note) are likely to create additional pressure” on the country.