Mali Settles 30-Year Dispute Over Voluntary Retirements (1986-1993)

Bamako, November 5, 2025 - After three decades of waiting, the Government of Mali has authorized the payment of benefits and compensation to former public servants who voluntarily retired between 1986 and 1993 under the country’s structural adjustment program. The decision was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, between the Government and the National Union of Workers of Mali (UNTM).

“It is with deep emotion and a real sense of accomplishment that I speak on this solemn occasion,” declared Yacouba Katilé, Secretary General of the UNTM, highlighting the significance of this long-awaited social justice measure.

The agreement marks the end of a protracted struggle that began when thousands of civil servants accepted voluntary retirement during a period of severe economic austerity. Many were left without due compensation for decades. The new MoU reflects the transitional government’s commitment to justice, fairness, and social cohesion.

According to Dr. Fassoun Coulibaly, Minister of Labour, Public Service, and Social Dialogue, the commission handling the case focused on three key components:

Reimbursement of the employer’s 8% contribution share;

Preservation of pension rights for 61 employees who had completed 15 years of service.

To settle the issue, the government has allocated over nine billion CFA francs, an act described by Katilé as both “moral and social redress.” “By signing this protocol, we are taking an act of justice toward these former workers who contributed their sweat and loyalty to the building of Mali,” he stated.

The agreement includes a three-year payment moratorium, with compensation to be deposited directly into the individual accounts of the beneficiaries. This landmark decision not only closes a painful chapter in Mali’s labor history but also signals the government’s determination to restore trust and equity between the state and its workforce.