In Mali, General Assimi Goïta promulgates a law granting him an unlimited mandate of president

At the beginning of July, the military regime granted a term of five years president, renewable “As many times as necessary” And without election to the head of the junta in power in Mali, General Assimi Goïta. The promulgation of the law, announced on July 10 in a document broadcast on social networks and authenticated from an official source, maintains Assimi Goïta at the head of the State until at least 2030.

“He fulfills the functions of head of state (…) up to the pacification of the country, from the promulgation of this Charter ”, According to the law. Arrived in power in Mali following two coups d’etat in 2020 and 2021, the soldiers had committed to handing over to civilians at the latest in March 2024. They have since failed in their promise.

The president of the transition, members of the government and members of the legislative body installed by the military are eligible for the presidential election and the general elections. The duration of the mandate may however be “Raised as soon as the conditions allowing the organization of a transparent and peaceful presidential election are met”, specifies the text.

This measure is the last in a series of severe restrictions on freedoms taken by the military to consolidate their regime in the Sahelian country.

Context of repression

During a rare public position in Bamako, political parties accused the junta of wanting their dissolution. This gathering of parties, under close police surveillance, had brought together several hundred people, on May 3, and has an exceptional character, in a context of repression of any discordant voice.

Since then, the junta has announced the dissolution of Malian political parties and political organizations. Their members were prohibited from meeting by the military.

The promulgation of the law comes to apply the recommendations made at the end of a national consultation organized by the junta, at the end of April. This national consultation – marked by the presence of the support of the regime, but boycotted by most political parties – had also requested the dissolution of parties and restrictions to their possibility of creating it.

Exactions against civilians

As a reminder, Mali has been prey, since 2012, to a deadly security crisis, nourished by the violence of groups affiliated with Al-Qaida and the Islamic State organization, as well as community criminal groups.

The Malian army and its allies – the Russian mercenaries of Africa Corps – responsible for tracking the jihadists, are regularly accused of committing abuses against civilians. Mali and its neighbors in Niger and Burkina Faso gathered in a Confederation, the Alliance of the Sahel States.