First Class Graduates from Mali’s New School of Penitentiary Administration

Koulikoro, February 13, 2026 - As part of Justice Week, Minister of Justice Mamoudou Kassogué presided over the graduation ceremony for the first class of the Koulikoro School of Penitentiary Administration and Juvenile Detention on Friday, February 13, 2026, marking a historic milestone for Mali since independence. Established in 2023, the school aims to strengthen the staffing and operational capacities of prison personnel, ensuring a balance between security imperatives and respect for human rights. The inaugural graduating class included 124 recruits, among them 32 women, and was named in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Tiémoko Keïta, an officer who died in the line of duty in Gao in 2021. After six months of rigorous training combining military discipline and legal instruction, the new officers, under Commander Cheick Ibrahim Cissouma, were officially appointed, symbolizing a commitment to integrity, dedication, and service in the prison administration.