Politics of Mali

Until the military coup of March 22, 2012^[1][2] and a second military coup in December 2012^[3] the politics of Mali took place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Mali is head of state with a Presidentially appointed Prime Minister as the head of government, and of a multi-party system.

Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

In August 2018, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was re-elected for a new five-year term after winning the second round of the election against Soumaïla Cissé.^[4]

The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Mali an "authoritarian regime" in 2022.^{[5][needs update]}

On 18 August 2020 a coup d'état ousted the president and prime minister. On 25 September 2020, retired colonel and former defence minister Bah Ndaw was sworn in as Mali's interim president.^[6]

On 15 April 2021, the transitional administration announced that legislative and presidential elections will be held on 27 February 2022.^[7] On 7 June 2021, Mali's military commander Assimi Goita was sworn into office as the new interim president.^[8] On 30 December 2021, the transitional administration announced plans to delay the election by six months to five years in part because of security issues,^[9] leading to political opposition and sanctions.

Executive branch

Main office-holders

Office	Name	Party	Since
Interim President	Assimi Goïta	Military	25 May 2021
Prime Minister	Abdoulaye Maïga	Military	21 November 2024

The executive branch consists of the President of Mali and the Government of Mali, led by the Prime Minister of Mali.

Under Mali's 1992 constitution, the president is chief of state and commander in chief of the armed forces. The president is elected to 5-year terms by direct popular vote. He is limited to two terms.

The Prime Minister of Mali is the head of government. They are appointed by the president^[10] and are responsible for the appointment of the other ministers of government.^[11]

The president chairs the Council of Ministers (the prime minister and currently^[when?] 27 other ministers), which adopts a proposals for laws submitted to the National Assembly for approval of them.

Legislative branch

The National Assembly is the sole legislative arm of the Malian government. It has 160 members, who are elected directly for a five-year term by party list. 147 members are elected in single-seat constituencies and 13 members elected by Malians abroad. Representation is apportioned according to the population of administrative districts.

The Assembly meets for two regular sessions each year. It debates and votes on legislation proposed either by one of its members or by the government; it also has the right to question government ministers about government actions and policies. Eight political parties, aggregated into four parliamentary groups, are represented in the Assembly. ADEMA currently^[when?] holds the majority; minority parties are represented in all committees and in the Assembly directorate.

Political parties and elections

Main articles: List of political parties in Mali and Elections in Mali

Mali's constitution provides for a multi-party democracy, with the only restriction being a prohibition against parties based on ethnic, religious, regional, or gender lines. In addition to those political parties represented in the National Assembly, others are active in municipal councils.

Presidential elections

Main article: 2018 Malian presidential election

Candidate		Party	First round		Second round
			Votes	%	Votes	%
	Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta	Rally for Mali	1,331,132	41.70	1,791,926	67.16
	Soumaïla Cissé	Union for the Republic and Democracy	567,679	17.78	876,124	32.84
	Aliou Boubacar Diallo [fr]	Democratic Alliance for Peace	256,404	8.03
	Cheick Modibo Diarra	CMD	236,025	7.39
	Housseini Amion Guindo	Convergence for the Development of Mali	124,506	3.90
	Oumar Mariko	African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence	74,300	2.33
	Modibo Kone	Mali Kanu Movement	72,941	2.29
	Choguel Kokalla Maïga	Patriotic Movement for Renewal	68,970	2.16
	Harouna Sankare	Harouna Movement	57,406	1.80
	Mamadou Sidibé [fr]	Party for the Restoration of Malian Values	54,274	1.70
	Modibo Sidibé	Alternative Forces for Renewal and Emergence	45,453	1.42
	Kalfa Sanogo	Alliance for Democracy in Mali (unofficial)	38,892	1.22
	Mamadou Igor Diarra [fr]		36,124	1.13
	Modibo Kadjoke	Alliance for Mali	30,479	0.95
	lMoussa Sinko Coulibaly [fr]	Independent	30,232	0.95
	Adama Kane	Independent	26,084	0.82
	Daba Diawara	Party for Independence, Democracy and Solidarity	22,991	0.72
	Mountaga Tall	National Congress for Democratic Initiative	20,312	0.64
	Dramane Dembélé	Alliance for Democracy in Mali	18,737	0.59
	Mohamed Aly Bathily	Association for Mali	17,712	0.55
	Hamadoun Touré	Independent	17,087	0.54
	Yeah Samake	Party for Civic and Patriotic Action	16,632	0.52
	Mamadou Traore	MIRIA	15,502	0.49
	Madame Djeneba N'diaye	Independent	12,275	0.38
Total			3,192,149	100.00	2,668,050	100.00
Valid votes			3,192,149	93.44	2,668,050	96.89
Invalid/blank votes			224,069	6.56	85,648	3.11
Total votes			3,416,218	100.00	2,753,698	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			8,000,462	42.70	8,000,462	34.42
Source: Constitutional Court

Parliamentary elections

Main article: 2013 Malian parliamentary election

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Rally for Mali	708,716	29.35	66	+55
	Union for the Republic and Democracy	546,628	22.64	17	–17
	Alliance for Democracy in Mali	277,517	11.49	16	–35
	Alternative Forces for Renewal and Emergence	881,613	36.51	6	New
	Convergence for the Development of Mali			5	New
	African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence			5	+1
	National Congress for Democratic Initiative			4	–3
	Party for National Rebirth			3	–1
	Party for Economic Development and Solidarity			3	New
	Patriotic Movement for Renewal			3	–5
	Alliance for Solidarity in Mali			3	New
	Democratic Alliance for Peace			2	New
	Social Democratic Convention			2	New
	Movement for the Independence, Renaissance, and Integration of Africa			2	0
	Malian Union for the African Democratic Rally			2	+1
	Change Party			1	New
	Union for Democracy and Development			1	–2
	Party for the Restoration of Malian Values			1	New
	Union of Patriots for Renewal			1	New
	Action Convergence for the People			0	–
	African Convergence for Renewal			0	–
	African Front for Mobilisation and Alternation			0	–
	African Movement for Democracy and Integration			0	–
	African Social Democratic Party			0	–
	Alliance for Mali			0	–
	Alliance for the Promotion and Development of Mali			0	–
	Alliance of Convinced Nationalists for Development			0	–
	Alternative Bloc for African Renewal			0	–
	Alternation Bloc for Renewal, Integration, and African Cooperation			0	–
	Bolen Mali Deme Ton			0	–
	Citizens' Party for Revival			0	–
	Dambe Mali Alliance			0	–
	Democratic Action for Change and Alternation in Mali			0	–
	Democratic Consultation			0	–
	Ecologist Party of Mali			0	–
	Future and Development in Mali			0	–
	Jamaa			0	–
	Liberal Democratic Party			0	–
	Luminary Party for Africa			0	–
	Malian Rally for Labour			0	–
	Movement for a Common Destiny			0	–
	Movement for Democracy and Development			0	–
	Movement of Patriots for Social Justice			0	–
	Movement of the Free, United and Combined Populations			0	–
	National Alliance for Construction			0	–
	National Convention for African Solidarity			0	–
	National Union for Renewal			0	–
	Party for Civic and Patriotic Action			0	–
	Party for Development and Social			0	–
	Party for Education, Culture, Health and Agriculture			0	–
	Party for Independence, Democracy and Solidarity			0	–
	Party for Solidarity and Progress			0	–
	Party for the Difference in Mali			0	–
	Party of Democratic Renewal and Labour			0	–
	Rally for Change			0	–
	Rally for Democracy and Progress			0	–
	Rally for Development and Solidarity			0	–
	Rally for Education about Sustainable Development			0	–
	Rally for Justice and Progress			0	–
	Rally for Labour Democracy			0	–
	Rally for Social Justice			0	–
	Rally for the Development of Mali			0	–
	Rally of the Republicans			0	–
	Sikikafo Oyedamouyé			0	–
	Social Democratic Party			0	–
	Socialist Party			0	–
	Socialist and Democratic Party			0	–
	Synergy for a New Mali	0	–
	Union for a People's Movement for Reform	0	–
	Union for Democracy and Alternation	0	–
	Union for Peace and Democracy	0	–
	Union for the Development of Mali	0	–
	Union of Democratic Forces	0	–
	Union of Patriots for the Republic	0	–
	Union of the Movements and Alliances for Mali	0	–
	Independents	4	–11
Total		2,414,474	100.00	147	–13
Valid votes		2,414,474	95.23
Invalid/blank votes		121,041	4.77
Total votes		2,535,515	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		6,564,026	38.63
Source: Ministry of the Interior^[permanent dead link‍], IPU, Adam Carr, Abamako

In the second round, out of 5,951,838 registered voters, 2,221,283 cast a vote - with 2,122,449 being valid - totalling a 37.32% turnout, according to the Constitutional Court^[12]

Judicial branch

Mali's legal system is based on codes inherited at independence from France. New laws have been enacted to make the system conform to Malian life, but French colonial laws not abrogated still have the force of law. The constitution provides for the independence of the judiciary.

The Ministry of Justice appoints judges and supervises both law enforcement and judicial functions. The Supreme Court has both judicial and administrative powers. Under the constitution, there is a separate constitutional court and a high court of justice with the power to try senior government officials in cases of treason.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Regions of Mali

Administratively, Mali is divided into ten regions (Gao, Ménaka, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Ségou, Sikasso, Tombouctou, Taoudénit) and the capital district of Bamako, each under the authority of an elected governor. Each region consists of five to nine districts (or Cercles), administered by Prefects. Cercles are divided into communes, which, in turn, are divided into villages or quarters.

A decentralisation and democratisation process began in the 1990s with the establishment of 702 elected municipal councils, headed by elected mayors, and previously appointed officials have been replaced with elected officials, which culminates in a National council of local officials. Other changes included greater local control over finances, and the reduction of administrative control by the central government.

Foreign relations

Further information: Foreign relations of Mali

Mali is member of ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

References

1. "UN Security council condemns Mali coup". 23 March 2012. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2018 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
2. "US condemns Mali coup amid reports of looting". telegraph.co.uk. 22 March 2012. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012.
3. Nossiter, Adam (11 December 2012). "Cheick Modibo Diarra, Mali's Prime Minister, Resigns After Arrest". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 22 July 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2017 – via NYTimes.com.
4. "Incumbent President Keita wins re-election in Mali". France 24. 16 August 2018. Archived from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
5. Democracy Index 2023: Age of Conflict (PDF). Economist Intelligence Unit (Report). 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 June 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
6. "Bah Ndaw sworn in as Mali's transitional president following coup". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
7. "Mali to hold elections next February following post-coup transition". Reuters. 15 April 2021. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
8. "Mali's military leader Goita sworn in as transitional president". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
9. "Mali Conference Recommends Election Delay of Up to 5 Years". VOA. 30 December 2021. Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
10. Mali, archived from the original on 16 January 2024, retrieved 13 August 2023
11. Mali, archived from the original on 14 August 2023, retrieved 13 August 2023
12. Second round data (page 492)

External links

• (in French) Official portal of the Government of Mali Archived 2 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
• (in French) Official portal of the President of Mali
• (in French) Government Decree 4-141, May 2004 - Official list of the Ministers and Ministries of the Government of Mali, at the official portal of the President of Mali