Mali/Urgent inquiry into grain exemptions: uncertainty surrounding July 2022 imports in Mali

It is imperative that the justice system conducts a thorough investigation into the exemptions granted to certain grain importers in July 2022. It appears that the Malian state may have been disadvantaged, even though those responsible for this situation remain unclear. Several individuals seem to be attempting to evade their responsibilities, including a transit agent who is reportedly on the run.

The rising grain prices in the market are a concern for many households, including the affluent, as prices have doubled in just twelve months.

For instance, a year ago, a 50-kilogram bag of Gambiaka rice cost 17,000 CFA francs, but it is currently trading at 27,500 CFA francs.

Despite the government’s efforts to mitigate this crisis, such as granting exemptions to grain importers in July 2022 and taking actions to stabilize the market through the Mali Agricultural Products Office (Opam) Intervention Stock, the situation remains concerning.

The situation in the grain market is tense, especially as the results of the agricultural campaign have been disappointing in some regions, raising concerns about future harvests.

Thus, it is legitimate to question the extent to which the exemptions have been beneficial if the population struggles to access reasonable prices for basic food products.

This issue is troubling Malians, who have already faced high expenses for their children’s education and are apprehensive about the costs of the upcoming Ramadan.

The transparency sought by the Transition authorities should enable us to better understand the details and consequences of the exemptions, which seem to have fallen short of the population’s expectations.

Neil Camara