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.
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