The Malian transitional government announced on Wednesday, August 20, that it will hold a National Forum on Justice. The goal of this event is to completely reimagine the country’s public judicial system.
Scheduled in two parts—regional sessions from September 25 to 30, followed by a final meeting in Bamako from October 30 to 31—the forum aims to improve access to justice, transparency, and national cohesion. It will also address legal issues related to the Confederation of Sahel States.
This forum is a significant step in a country where the judiciary has struggled with legitimacy. Since the 2012 political and security crisis, access to justice has been difficult due to structural challenges. These include the complex system inherited from French law, language barriers, high procedural costs, and a lack of legal aid. As a result, many Malians have turned to customary justice—traditional mediation led by village chiefs or qadis—which is often seen as more accessible and trustworthy.
The new forum seeks to build a modern, efficient, and rights-respecting justice system. It’s designed to bring together judges, civil society members, local authorities, and international partners to work collectively. This initiative could mark a turning point for Mali if it leads to concrete actions, especially in providing legal aid and ensuring equal access to justice for all citizens.
This event follows a previous forum on customary justice held in November 2023, which explored how traditional mechanisms could be integrated into the state’s legal framework. By convening this two-phase forum, the government hopes for broad participation to make it a landmark moment in the country’s transition.
MD/ac/Sf/fss/abj/APA