Sense of insecurity and profile of crime victims in Mali from 2014 to 2020

Abstract

Coupled with both a political and a social crisis, the conflict which Mali has faced since 2012 has been the subject of many studies in the field of social sciences. Despite this, relatively little is known about non-lethal criminal violence, its evolution since the start of the crisis and how it is dealt with by the population. This article helps to bridge these gaps using data from Governance, Peace and Security (GPS) survey modules integrated into the modular and permanent household survey conducted each year since 2014. Given the unparalleled accuracy of GPS data, we are also able to establish a profile of crime victims in Mali. Despite a very high and growing sense of insecurity among the population, victimisation rates saw a steady decline in Mali up until 2019. This positive trend was brought to a halt in 2020 and set off alarm bells. Offences are rarely reported to the public authorities and we try to identify the possible reasons for this. Women, people with no formal education and members of poorer households in particular are generally less likely to be victims of crime. Residents of the regions of Mopti, Tombouctou and Gao tend to be more exposed.