Mali: when remaining a Christian also has a price

The persecution against Christians in Mali is taking forms that go beyond attacks and displacements. In different areas of the center and south of the country, jihadist groups are imposing on Christian communities the payment of a special fee as a condition to be able to keep their churches open.
A recent field report by Open Doors partner organizations reveals that several churches are being forced to pay the so-called jizya, a tax imposed on non-Muslims. The alternative proposed by armed groups may be to close the temples or face new threats. In some locations, communities have had to sell part of their crops and livestock to raise the amounts claimed.
The data show to what extent this economic pressure can condition religious life. One of the affected denominations would have paid around 25,000 dollars in 2024, 49,700 in 2025 and already 53,000 during 2026. In addition, several churches have had to close in areas such as Koro, Bankass, Bandiagara, Tominian, Bla and Yorosso.
Mali is currently ranked 15th on the Open Doors 2026 World Pursuit List. The organization points out that Christians suffer violence, kidnappings and destruction of churches, while converts from Islam are among the most vulnerable groups.
The situation is also developing in a context of strong instability. Amnesty International has documented how armed groups are imposing their own rules on numerous communities and forcing thousands of people to leave their homes. As of July 2026, some 290,000 Malian refugees were registered in Mauritania.
In this scenario, religious persecution does not always take the form of a direct attack. Sometimes it manifests itself through fear, extortion, and the inability to keep a church open. For many Malian Christians, remaining in their community means assuming an increasing cost for simply practicing their faith.