Mali Launches Major Drainage Project in Bamako to Combat Flooding
Sustainable Change Through Citizen Action
Malian Prime Minister General Abdoulaye Maiga has launched an ambitious drainage project in Bamako, declaring: “Let’s make the 2025 rainy season one of renewal rather than tears.” The official ceremony on May 15 marked the beginning of critical infrastructure work to protect the capital from devastating floods.
Addressing a National Crisis
The 2024 rainy season caused catastrophic damage across Mali:
- 729 flood incidents
- 47,306 building collapses
- 465,226 affected households
- 195,845 hectares of lost crops
- 95 fatalities
These disasters resulted from rapid urbanization, poor infrastructure maintenance, and improper waste management practices.
Major Infrastructure Investment
The government has committed 2.66 billion CFA francs through special investment funds for:
- 131,000 linear meters of collector systems
- 235,000 linear meters of drainage channels
Comprehensive Urban Strategy
The program includes:
- Enforcement against illegal construction in flood zones
- Public education on waste management
- Promotion of waste sorting and recycling
- Strict urban planning regulations
Environment Minister Doumbia Mariam Tangara will oversee implementation, while neighborhood cleanliness competitions in Bamako and Kati encourage community participation.
“Sanitation isn’t a luxury—it’s a right, a requirement for dignity, and a social justice imperative.”
Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga
The initiative follows President Assimi Goïta’s declaration of national disaster status and allocation of 4 billion CFA francs in emergency relief after the 2024 floods.