Those audits have revealed unexplained shortages of money in several ministerial offices and the prime minister’s bureau after the new government took over.  And citizen activist groups say officials have been slow in holding anyone to account, especially when it touches high level officials and their relatives.

“No action has been taken against those who are involved in these corruption cases, though the new authorities complain about the problem. The current Minister of Justice said he found only 45 000 CFA (about $90 US dollars) in the account for his department”, social activist Bourama Sacko told AFKInsider.

“I wonder how the new president will act against corruption, as some members of his government have been ministers under previous regimes and one has been involved in bribery, especially under President Konare,” said Sacko.

Alpha Oumar Konare was president from 1992 to 2002.

The Office of the General Auditor was formed in 2003 under former president Amadou Toumani Toure, who was removed from power by the military coup in 2012 — partly due to anger at the government over corruption.  The new government had difficulties in pursuing cases of corruption in Mali because the General Auditor’s reports disappeared from the judiciary office when Keita took office.

Separately, five Malian judges and a judicial clerk were arrested in early December on bribery charges.  According to the Malian Minister of Justice, the suspects are charged with demanding or receiving money from citizens in the course of their public duties. The officials were arrested after citizens complained to the Ministry and an investigation verified their allegations of corruption in Mali.