Population figures
Total country population
24,015,789
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
95,440
Asylum-seekers:
230
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
330,713
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
0
Host community
0
Others of concern to UNHCR
0
Country context
Mali, located in West Africa, has been a destination for refugees and asylum seekers, particularly from neighboring countries such as Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mauritania. Despite the country's ongoing socio-political and security challenges, Mali continues to uphold an open-door policy for refugees and displaced persons, providing a legal framework for their protection. Mali is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, its 1967 Protocol, the Kampala Convention on Internally Displaced Persons, and various other human rights agreements, including those relating to stateless persons.
The country's asylum system is governed by policies that offer protection to refugees and asylum seekers, although its efficiency is impacted by security concerns. The legal framework aims to ensure the rights of displaced persons, though the protection system is still in the process of strengthening. Significant efforts have been made to improve the asylum procedure, including the implementation of continuous registration structures in areas with high refugee populations, biometric documentation, and collaboration with national human rights institutions to monitor and respond to the needs of displaced persons.
...Mali hosts refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and individuals at risk of statelessness. Refugees primarily come from Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mauritania, seeking protection from armed conflict and instability. Many refugees and IDPs reside in rural areas, particularly in Central and North-Est regions, while some are also located in Bamako (urban area), and southern parts of the country.
The government, with the support of international partners, has been engaged in efforts to facilitate the repatriation of refugees, through establishment of Tripartite agreements with Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Niger, to support the voluntary return of refugees, with a focus on ensuring that the return process is safe and dignified.
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