Mali: Electronic tagging under consideration to modernize the prison system

Mali is exploring the use of electronic tagging as an alternative to imprisonment for certain individuals who meet the legal requirements. To this end, a Malian delegation conducted a study mission to Senegal from August 31 to September 8, 2026, to learn from Senegal's experience with electronic monitoring.

Through this approach, the Malian authorities seek to identify solutions to better manage penitentiary establishments while ensuring the execution of court decisions and the monitoring of the people concerned.

When ordered within the established legal framework, electronic tagging allows for remote monitoring and can, in some cases, prevent the systematic use of detention. However, the device does not replace a judicial decision; it constitutes an additional tool for control and monitoring.

This initiative is part of a broader project to modernize the Malian justice system, led by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, headed by Mr. Mamoudou Kassogué.

For Mali, the challenge will be in particular to guarantee the reliability of the system, the protection of data and the ability of the competent services to intervene in the event of an alert.
The Senegalese experience should thus contribute to informing Malian thinking on prison management that combines security, execution of sentences and reintegration.

Djamila Kambou