IFC and Orange Mali Partner to Expand Rural Connectivity with €80 Million Investment
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.
To expand access to quality and affordable connectivity and digital financial services in Mali, especially in rural areas, IFC 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. With IFC’s support, we will expand network coverage, strengthen resilience, and ensure that more Malians benefit from the opportunities of the digital economy.”
– Aboubakar Sadikhe DIOP, CEO, Orange Mali
“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.”
– Fatoumata Sissoko-Sy, Regional Industry Manager for Infrastructure in West Africa, IFC
“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.”
– M. Daouda BERTE, Head of Infrastructure and Digital Economy, 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.”
– Dorothée Vignalou, Deputy CEO, Finance, Strategy & Development, 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.
