Mali Calls on U.S. to Address Alleged Misuse of Aid Funds in Terrorism Financing

The Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has expressed surprise following a recent publication by the U.S. Office of Government Effectiveness, which announced the cancellation of American subsidies to Mali.

According to a statement issued on February 24, Malian authorities have formally contacted their American counterparts for clarification. In the statement, the ministry also reacted to reports circulating on social media that a supposed U.S. subsidy of $14 million (approximately 8 billion CFA francs) intended to support social cohesion in Mali had been revoked.

It is for this reason that the Government of Mali has, for the past two years, refrained from signing the five-year Development Objective Grant Agreement with the United States concerning the financing of projects by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and has postponed the implementation of certain activities, including those related to social cohesion, subject to the respect of Mali’s sovereignty, priorities, and national execution procedures in this matter,” the statement reads in part.

The statement aligns with the governance principles outlined by Mali’s transitional President, emphasising national sovereignty and protecting Malian interests. The government has also postponed implementing certain social cohesion-related activities, pending guarantees of respect for Mali’s sovereignty and national priorities.

While acknowledging the U.S. government’s recent efforts to reform and regulate its aid programs, Malian authorities welcomed this shift as an opportunity to address the reality of public aid misuse. However, they called for further action against individuals or entities responsible for redirecting funds to support international terrorism, including threats affecting Mali and other members of the Confederation of Sahel States (CSS).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged U.S. authorities to initiate legal proceedings against those misusing development funds for subversive activities.

Mali reaffirmed its commitment to security, peace, and sustainable development within a national ownership, partnership, and mutual respect framework, particularly within the CSS bloc.

It will be recalled that Scott Perry, a Pennsylvania Republican rep, revealed that billions of dollars in U.S. aid have been used to fund terrorist groups, including the Taliban, Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, and ISIS. Perry made this known on February 13, 2025, during a House hearing on USAID. The hearing, organised by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was meant to review the Trump administration’s funding freeze on USAID.

However, the U.S. Mission in Nigeria issued a statement following public outrage over allegations that American aid funds have been funnelled to terrorist groups, including Boko Haram. The statement, however, failed to deny or confirm the claims directly.

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