Bill granting head of Mali’s junta, Gen. Assimi Goita, five more years in power signed into law
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Mali’s military ruler, General Assimi Goita, now has a renewable five-year mandate to rule without elections, further tightening his grip on power.
Mali’s Junta Leader Assimi Goita Signs Law Extending His Rule by Five Years
Mali’s military ruler, General Assimi Goita, has signed a new law granting himself a five-year presidential mandate, renewable indefinitely, effectively consolidating power until at least 2030 without an election.
The law, signed on Tuesday and passed by the military-appointed legislative council last week, implements the recommendations of a national dialogue boycotted by major political parties. It formalizes Goita’s continued leadership, despite earlier promises to transition back to civilian rule by March 2024.
In a controversial move in May, Goita also dissolved all political parties, amid a growing crackdown on dissent. The decision followed a wave of kidnappings of pro-democracy activists in Bamako and protests led by civil society groups.
Tightening Grip on Power
The junta’s latest action is viewed by analysts as another restriction on freedoms in Mali, where democratic space has steadily shrunk under military rule. The regime has banned protests, censored the media, and suppressed opposition voices, sparking condemnation from rights groups and international observers.
Goita first seized power in 2020 and again in 2021, overthrowing the interim government in both coups. He has ruled ever since, as jihadist violence linked to al-Qaida and ISIS continues to destabilize the country and broader Sahel region.
Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa, has struggled with political unrest for more than a decade. Coupled with persistent insecurity, the new law raises concerns that the nation is sliding deeper into authoritarianism.
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