A NATIONAL forum of political actors in Mali has called for junta leader Assimi Goita to be officially named president for a new five-year term, marking a significant escalation in the military-led government’s consolidation of power.
The recommendation emerged from a national political dialogue held in the capital, Bamako, on Tuesday, according to a statement seen by Reuters. The forum also called for the dissolution of all existing political parties and a tightening of rules for forming new ones, effectively reshaping Mali’s political landscape.
The proposed measures, which participants say could be implemented in the coming days, would further entrench Goita’s rule following his rise to power through two military coups in 2020 and 2021.
Junta consolidates control
Assimi Goita, 41, has led Mali as interim head of state under the title ‘President of the Transition’ since 2021. Originally a colonel in Mali’s special forces, Goita was promoted to five-star general in October 2024, cementing his stature at the top of Mali’s military hierarchy.
His leadership has been characterised by a gradual departure from previous commitments to return the country to civilian rule. Initially, the junta pledged to hold elections in February 2022, but that timeline has been repeatedly postponed, drawing criticism from regional blocs and international observers.
Despite mounting pressure, Mali’s military authorities have continued to assert that stability and security must take precedence over elections in a country plagued by jihadist violence.
Crackdown on political opposition
The call to abolish all political parties is seen as part of a broader crackdown on dissent and opposition. Earlier in 2024, the junta had already suspended all political activities, accusing parties of ‘subversion’ and undermining national unity.
Tuesday’s recommendation appears to confirm fears among opposition groups that the military government is aiming to eliminate political competition altogether. Several opposition leaders had boycotted earlier consultations over similar concerns.
If enacted, the proposals would significantly curtail pluralism in Mali, centralising power in the hands of the military while narrowing the space for civilian participation in politics.
Security first, democracy later
Goita and other junta leaders have consistently framed their rule as a necessary step to restore order in a nation beset by more than a decade of armed conflict. Jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State continue to launch attacks across the Sahel, posing major threats to civilian life and state control.
The military government has forged closer ties with Russia in recent years while severing key defence and diplomatic links with France and its Western allies. It has also withdrawn from the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, along with fellow junta-led neighbours Burkina Faso and Niger, forming a new Confederation of Sahel States (AES) alliance.
Uncertain democratic future
The recommendations from the Bamako forum are likely to draw international scrutiny. While Goita retains domestic support among segments of the population who see the military as a stabilising force, critics argue that the continued delay of elections and suppression of political parties undermines Mali’s long-term democratic development.
As the proposals await formal enactment, Mali appears to be moving deeper into military rule — with fewer institutional checks and an uncertain path back to democratic governance.
