Mali’s Bandiagara region continues to receive refugees fleeing insecurity in neighbouring Burkina Faso, as displacement across the Sahel intensifies.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there has been a sharp rise in the number of Burkinabe refugees arriving in eastern Mali. The influx reflects the worsening security situation driving families across borders in search of safety.

Figures released at the end of December 2025 show that more than 71,000 refugees are now registered in the region. Since April last year alone, over 51,000 new arrivals have been recorded.

In addition, some 6,000 people are still pre-registered, underscoring continued pressure on host communities and humanitarian services in the area.