Chinese Government provides RMB 50 million loan for March 26 Stadium Construction Project (Linked to Project ID#1080, #73238)

On December 4, 2001, the Chinese Government and the Government of Mali signed another RMB 50 million loan for the March 26 Stadium Construction Project. On June 10, 2000, the Chinese Government and the Government of Mali signed an RMB 50 million loan for the March 26 Stadium Construction Project. This project captures the loan contracted in 2000, and Project ID#73238 captures the loan contracted in 2001. This project involved the construction of a football stadium located in Bamako called the Stade du 26 Mars (March 26 Stadium). It seats 50,000 people. China Overseas Engineering Group (COVEC) was the contractor responsible for implementation. Construction began in 1999 and the stadium was inaugurated on December 4, 2001, ahead of the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations. The Chinese Government reportedly covered 1/3 of the total project cost (25 million euros), with the Government of Mali covering the other 2/3.

Additional details

The Chinese project title is 新建5万人座体育场 or 建马里326体育场 援建. The French project title is Construction du Stade du 26 Mars. Neither of the Chinese Government loans that the Government of Mali contracted in 2000 and 2001 for this project are recorded in the database of Chinese loan commitments that SAIS-CARI released in July 2020. Multiple sources refer to this project as being supported by 'aid' or 'financial assistance'. Therefore, AidData codes the transaction as an interest-free loan from MOFCOM for the time being. However, this issue requires further investigation. The Government of Mali also contracted two, RMB 30 million loans for this project in 1999. Project ID#1080 captures the umbrella loan for all Chinese financed soccer stadiums for the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations.

Number of official sources

8

Number of total sources

13