By: ThinkBusiness Africa
The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has officially prohibited IYA S.A.R.L., a construction company registered in the Republic of Mali, from participating in any projects financed by the Bank Group. AfDB said on Wednesday.
According to a statement from AfDB, the 20-month debarment of IYA S.A.R.L. and its affiliates, follows an investigation into fraudulent practices.
The debarment stems from an investigation by the Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption (PIAC). Investigators found that IYA S.A.R.L. engaged in fraudulent practices during the tender process for the Guinea-Mali Electricity Interconnection Project (PIEGM).
The construction of the 714-km high-voltage transmission line (225 kV) between the two nations, is a cornerstone of West Africa’s energy strategy, aimed at: Lowering electricity costs and increasing the reliability of power for millions of residents, and Strengthening the West African Power Pool (WAPP) to allow for more efficient energy trading.
“An investigation conducted by the Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption of the African Development Bank Group established that, in the context of the tender for the construction of electricity infrastructure under the Guinea-Mali Electricity Interconnection Project (“the PIEGM Project”), IYA S.A.R.L. committed a Fraudulent Practice.” AfDB noted.
IYA S.A.R.L. 20-month debarment is classified as a “debarment with conditional release.” For IYA S.A.R.L. to regain eligibility for Bank-funded contracts after the 20-month period, it must fulfill several strict requirements which involves a comprehensive internal compliance system consistent with the Bank’s anti-corruption guidelines.
This enforcement action is part of a broader trend of sanctions by the AfDB. Within the last quarter, several other firms have been blacklisted for similar violations in the infrastructure and consultancy sectors.
In late 2025, the Bank issued several major sanctions, including a 30-month debarment for SOMACOTH SA in Mali due to fraudulent practices in road construction, and a 24-month debarment for the Kenyan firm Tetralink Taylor & Associates involving consultancy services. Additionally, the Bank sanctioned Yessan Sarlu of Togo with an 18-month ban for fraud in water infrastructure projects.
Under a 2010 agreement, major Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs)—including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development—recognize each other’s debarments.
Consequently, IYA S.A.R.L. is likely to find itself barred from virtually all internationally funded development projects globally for the duration of this sanction.
