Bamako, Mali, November 17, 2025 — To expand access to quality and affordable connectivity and digital financial services in Mali, especially in rural areas, IFC today announced a partnership with Orange Mali SA to support the company to upgrade its infrastructure, expand broadband coverage, and ensure equal access to telecoms services for all communities.
An €80 million loan (equal to about XOF 52.5 billion) from IFC and other investors will enable Orange Mali to install 300 new 4G towers and expand its fiber network to reach an estimated 300,000 households and smaller businesses in Mali. Half of the towers will be built in rural areas, increasing access to fast, affordable internet for education, business, and financial services.
The financing package includes €50 million equivalent in XOF from IFC's own account and up to €30 million IFC has mobilized from the West African Development Bank (BOAD). IFC's investment is supported by the World Bank Group's International Development Association (IDA) Private Sector Window, which provides longer-term financing in local currency that is not readily available in the market.
This investment is the first to come from a partnership signed by IFC and Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan in May 2025. The partnership aims to roll out sustainable digital infrastructure projects across eight countries in West and Central Africa, expanding affordable connectivity and driving financial inclusion.
Structured as a Social Loan, IFC-led financing supports the deployment of mobile and fiber optic networks in areas at risk of digital exclusion. IFC’s investment also includes a provision under which Orange Mali will increase the proportion of women participating in its digital training programs to 70 percent by 2032.
“This partnership reinforces our commitment to digital inclusion and universal access to telecommunications,” said Aboubakar Sadikhe DIOP, CEO of Orange Mali. “With IFC’s support, we will expand network coverage, strengthen resilience, and ensure that more Malians benefit from the opportunities of the digital economy.”
Fatoumata Sissoko-Sy, IFC’s Regional Industry Manager for Infrastructure in West Africa, said, “Expanding digital access is an essential pillar of Mali’s social and economic development. IFC’s partnership with Orange Mali will help bridge the digital gap, create jobs, and empower more women to join the digital economy. It also underscores how innovative tools like social loans and local currency financing can drive inclusive growth in frontier markets.”.
"BOAD is proud to stand alongside IFC and Orange Mali in this crucial initiative. This financing, which BOAD is mobilizing, is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to regional integration and digital inclusion, central pillars of our “Djoliba strategic plan”. By connecting rural communities and empowering women through digital programs, we are directly investing in Mali's socio-economic resilience and the future prosperity of the entire WAEMU zone." Said M. Daouda BERTE, Head of Infrastructure and Digital Economy at BOAD.
“This partnership with IFC is a key step in scaling inclusive digital infrastructure across Africa, by combining our regional leadership with IFC’s investment capacity. Together, we aim to bring quality connectivity and essential services to all, especially underserved communities” adds Dorothée Vignalou, Deputy CEO, Finance, Strategy & Development of Orange Middle East and Africa.
As part of the project, Orange Mali will replace its diesel generators with solar-powered systems, cutting more than 8,000 tons of carbon emissions annually.
The project also supports Mali’s Digital 2020 strategy and the World Bank Group’s Digital Economy for Africa Initiative, both of which leverage technology to create jobs and promote inclusion.
In Mali, IFC supports projects that expand finance for small businesses, strengthen agribusiness, and promote clean energy. Across the Sahel, IFC has committed over $1 billion in the fiscal year 2025 to foster resilient growth with the World Bank and MIGA, improving connectivity and creating opportunities for youth and women.
Orange Mali, which is majority-owned by Sonatel, an IFC client and part of the Orange Group, serves more than 12 million subscribers and is Mali’s leading telecommunications provider.
About IFC
IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
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About Orange Mali
Orange Mali, a subsidiary of Sonatel, is a société anonyme established in 2003 with a share capital of 27.186 billion CFA francs. As a key player in the country’s digital transformation, Orange Mali offers a wide range of services, from mobile telephony to high-speed internet and financial services. A market leader in both volume and value (telecommunications and mobile money), Orange Mali continues to invest heavily to expand and enhance service quality nationwide, thereby helping to reduce the digital divide.
About the West African Development Bank
The West African Development Bank (BOAD) is the common development finance institution for WAMU member countries. Its purpose is to promote balanced development and economic integration in West Africa by financing priority projects. BOAD is accredited to the three main climate finance facilities (GEF, AF, GCF), and hosts UNFCC first Regional Collaboration Center on Clean Development Mechanism. Since February 2025, BOAD has held the sole presidency of the International Development Finance Club (IDFC). For more information, visit www.boad.org