Mali regains control of strategic telecom asset 17 yrs after privatisation

The Malian government has regained majority control of the country’s historic telecommunications operator, Sotelma, marking a major shift in the ownership of one of the nation’s most strategic digital infrastructure assets.

The move comes 17 years after Mali privatised the company and sold a controlling stake to Morocco’s Maroc Telecom in 2009 as part of efforts to liberalise and modernise the telecommunications sector.

Under the deal, Maroc Telecom acquired 51 percent of Sotelma, while the Malian government retained a 49 percent stake.

Following a government decision in October 2024, Mali increased its ownership in Sotelma to 56 percent, making the state the majority shareholder and reducing Maroc Telecom’s position to that of a minority investor.

The government said the transaction was completed without direct financial payment.

Sotelma, which operates commercially as Moov Africa Malitel, is Mali’s former state telecommunications company and one of the country’s key mobile network operators.

The company’s renewed operating licence, valued at 160 billion CFA francs (about $264 million), allows it to continue providing fixed and mobile services, including 2G, 3G, 4G, data transmission, and international telecommunications services.

With its increased stake, the Malian government will now have greater influence over the company’s leadership structure, including the appointment of key executives such as the managing director, finance director, audit head, and human resources director.

The government has also pledged to maintain existing jobs, improve employee conditions, and strengthen Sotelma’s investment capacity as it seeks to reposition the operator as a stronger competitor in Mali’s telecom market.

The ownership change comes as competition in Mali’s telecommunications sector continues to intensify. As of the first half of 2024, Sotelma had about 8.5 million mobile subscribers, representing roughly 37 percent of the market, while Orange Mali remained the market leader with about 54.9 percent share.

The government’s return to majority ownership reflects a broader push by Mali to strengthen state control over strategic assets and increase domestic influence in critical sectors, particularly those tied to digital connectivity and economic development.