Mali’s military ruler, General Assimi Goïta, has secured the endorsement of key political allies to remain President for the next five years—potentially extending his grip on power until 2030.
This follows recommendations from a National Dialogue convened by the ruling junta, though the event was boycotted by leading opposition parties. Gen Goïta, who has staged two coups since 2020, was initially installed as Transitional President in 2021 with a pledge to organize elections the following year. That promise has since been abandoned, casting fresh doubt on the country’s democratic trajectory.
The Conference’s proposals, seen as an orchestrated move to legitimize the general’s long-term rule, have raised alarm both domestically and internationally. Human rights organization Amnesty International strongly condemned the reported suggestion to dissolve political parties, calling it a “flagrant attack” on freedom of expression and association. Opposition leader Mohamed Salia Touré also warned that undermining the multi-party system would be a “historic error.” Although the junta has yet to comment publicly, observers fear these developments mark a systematic dismantling of democratic institutions in favour of military entrenchment.
Meanwhile, Gen Goïta continues to steer Mali further from traditional allies, having exited the ECOWAS bloc alongside Burkina Faso and Niger while forging deeper ties with Russia. The regime justifies its authoritarian drift by citing ongoing insecurity posed by jihadist groups affiliated with Islamic State and al-Qaeda. Since his rise to power, the 41-year-old leader has elevated himself from colonel to five-star general, cementing his authority amid a regional pivot away from France and Western influence.