Mali: Extended Transition Under Assimi Goïta’s Leadership

Editorial : Reda El Ghazal

A national dialogue held in Bamako has proposed entrusting Mali’s presidency to Colonel-Major Assimi Goïta, the current transitional leader, for a five-year term. Participants also recommended dissolving existing political parties and imposing strict regulations on future political groups, according to an official statement released last Tuesday. Described as a critical step toward stability, these measures are expected to be formally ratified soon.

Goïta, who has led the country since 2021 following successive political transitions, saw his position strengthened after being promoted to army general in October 2024. Initially, authorities pledged to hold elections in 2022, but the timeline has been repeatedly delayed. Meanwhile, the government claims to prioritize combating insecurity in a context of persistent jihadist threats linked to groups affiliated with ISIS or Al-Qaeda, which have been active since the 2012 Tuareg rebellion.

This direction has sparked debates over balancing security priorities with democratic processes. While the dialogue’s recommendations have garnered approval from some political actors, questions remain about their alignment with regional and international expectations. Malian authorities, however, maintain that a stable transition period is necessary to address security challenges while laying the groundwork for a eventual return to constitutional rule.