By BAMAKO, Mali — A national conference of political actors in Mali has recommended appointing junta leader Assimi Goita as president for a five-year term, a move that could further entrench military rule in the West African nation. The proposal, announced on April 29, 2025, in the capital, Bamako, also includes controversial measures to dissolve all political parties and impose stricter regulations on forming new ones, raising alarms about the erosion of democratic freedoms.
Goita, 41, who seized power through coups in 2020 and 2021, has been serving as Mali’s interim “President of the Transition” since 2021. A former colonel in the Malian Armed Forces’ Autonomous Special Forces Battalion, Goita led the National Committee for the Salvation of the People in ousting then-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta amid widespread discontent over corruption and the government’s failure to curb jihadist insurgencies in the region.
In October 2024, Goita promoted himself to the rank of five-star general, a symbolic gesture underscoring his tightening grip on power. The indefinite postponement of elections in 2024 further fueled concerns about Mali’s democratic backsliding.
The national conference’s recommendations come against a backdrop of political instability in the Sahel, a region that has seen a wave of military coups over the past few years. Countries like Burkina Faso, Guinea, Niger, and Gabon have also experienced successful military takeovers, often driven by popular frustration with elected governments unable to address insecurity, corruption, and foreign influence.
In Mali, the junta has justified its actions as necessary to stabilize the country, but critics argue that these measures undermine fundamental rights.
Images from the conference, shared by African Hub on X, depict Goita in military fatigues, seated at a desk adorned with Mali’s national flags, addressing a large gathering of attendees. The audience, dressed in colorful traditional attire, filled a spacious auditorium, with some standing and raising their hands in apparent support.
The visuals reflect the significant public turnout for the event, though the extent of genuine representation remains in question. Opposition groups, including the Yelema party, have criticized the conference for lacking inclusivity, claiming it was dominated by junta loyalists.
The proposal to dissolve political parties has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations. Amnesty International’s Ousmane Diallo, a Sahel researcher, called the move “a flagrant attack on the rights to freedom of expression and association,” noting that it contradicts Mali’s 2023 constitution, which guarantees the existence and free operation of political parties.
“The authorities must end the escalating crackdown on civic space and uphold the human rights of everyone in the country, including critics, human rights defenders, and opposition politicians,” Diallo stated in a press release on April 30, 2025.
The military regime’s actions are part of a broader clampdown on dissent. In June 2024, 11 political party leaders were arrested on charges of “plotting against state authority” and “opposing legitimate authority.” Although they were provisionally released in December 2024, the arrests signaled the junta’s intolerance for opposition. The proposed dissolution of political parties would further marginalize civilian voices, potentially paving the way for a more authoritarian governance structure.
Mali’s political crisis is emblematic of a larger trend across the Sahel, where military coups have disrupted democratic processes in at least seven countries over the past three years, from Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean to Sudan on the Red Sea. The region’s strategic importance has drawn international attention, with global powers like France, the United States, Russia, and China vying for influence.
France, in particular, has been heavily impacted, losing influence in four West African capitals, including Niamey, Niger, to military takeovers since 2020. An unprecedented wave of anti-French sentiment has swept the region, often fueled by perceptions of neocolonial interference.
Goita’s potential five-year presidency, if enacted, would mark a significant shift for Mali, formalizing military rule at a time when the country faces ongoing security challenges from jihadist groups and economic hardship. The recommendations from the national conference are expected to be implemented in the coming days, though their long-term implications for Mali’s political landscape remain uncertain.
As Mali navigates this critical juncture, the international community watches closely, wary of the precedent being set in the Sahel. For many Malians, the hope for stability and democratic governance hangs in the balance, as the junta’s actions continue to reshape the nation’s future.
1 Comment