Abortion law Mali

Background (From the UN county report)

"Under Article 170 of the Penal Code of Mali (Law No. 99 of 3 August 1961), there are no stated exceptions to a general prohibition against abortion. Nonetheless, under general principles of criminal law, which are reflected in the provisions of Mali’s Penal Code, an abortion can be performed to save the life of the pregnant woman. 

A woman who performs her own abortion or consents to the performance of the abortion by another person is subject to one to five years’ imprisonment and, optionally, payment of a fine of CFAF 20,000-1,000,000. The person performing the abortion is subject to the same penalties. Physicians and health personnel who perform abortions are subject to six months’ to three years’ imprisonment and, optionally, payment of a fine of CFAF 20,000 to 200,000. In addition, they are subject to suspension from engaging in their profession for a period of five years to the rest of their lives.

In 1972, Mali became the first francophone country in Western Africa to repeal the French law of 31 July 1920, which prohibited the advertisement, sale or distribution of contraceptives. Mali was also the first country in francophone Africa to accept and legalize family planning as an integral part of its effort to protect the health of mothers and children through longer intervals between births."

Source: http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/doc/mali.doc