Mali
Civil law
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Mali is a civil-law country with a legal system from France, in which Islamic law and custom matter for family life. Its constitutional arrangements have been affected by political events, so this profile describes the formal structure.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Where the law comes from
- The Constitution, the highest law while in force
- Codes and statutes in the French tradition, and the Code of Persons and the Family
- OHADA Uniform Acts for business law
- Islamic and customary law, in family and local matters
The main courts
- The Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court
- Courts of appeal
- Courts of first instance and justices of the peace
Becoming a lawyer
A law degree and professional training, then registration with the Bar of Mali.
What may surprise you
- Religious leaders and customary authorities play a visible part in family and local disputes.
- The formal court system is stretched, especially in the north.
- Business law comes from OHADA Uniform Acts.
Related systems
How this country is classified
The University of Ottawa’s JuriGlobe database lists Mali as: Civil law, Customary. It names the systems in order of importance.
The map colours a country by the first-named system, and shows both civil-law and common-law countries as “mixed”. It is a simplification, and real systems are rarely pure.
Other countries in the same family
Sources
TheLawToKnow Tools’s Legal Families Atlas is an educational overview. It simplifies on purpose, and it is not legal advice. For a real legal question about Mali, consult a lawyer qualified there. Report a mistake.
