In a move signaling a potential significant shift in Mali’s political landscape, a gathering of Malian political forces in Bamako has recommended the dissolution of all existing political parties and the appointment of the current junta leader, General Assimi Goita, as President of the Republic for a renewable five-year term.
The proposals emerged from the national phase of consultations held at the Bamako International Conference Center (CICB) on Monday, April 28, 2025. These recommendations suggest a radical overhaul of Mali’s political system, moving away from the current multi-party structure.
The session, chaired by Prime Minister General Abdoulaye Maiga, brought together a diverse group of participants, including representatives from civil society, traditional authorities, and members of the Malian diaspora. The resulting recommendations clearly indicate a desire to break with the established partisan system. Specifically, the proposals include the dissolution of all current political parties and the installation of General Assimi Goita, the leader of the current transitional government, as President for a five-year term that could be renewed.
Furthermore, the consultations proposed stringent new criteria for the creation of future political parties. These include a substantial deposit of 100 million CFA francs, age restrictions for party leaders (between 25 and 75 years old), and the requirement for demonstrable territorial representation. The recommendations also suggest the elimination of public funding for political parties and the abolishment of the official status of opposition leader, along with sanctions against political “nomadism” (frequent switching of party affiliation).
On the institutional front, participants advocated for a revision of the Transition Charter to facilitate the official appointment of General Goita as President of the Republic in 2025, drawing a parallel with “his peers in the AES” (Alliance of Sahel States). The current transitional bodies would remain in place “until the country is pacified.” Notably, in neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, leaders who came to power through coups have similarly been retained for extended transitional periods of five years following national consultations.
Under these proposals, all elections would be suspended. The presidential election, envisioned as a single-round vote, would require candidates to pay a significant deposit of 250 million CFA francs.
Prime Minister Maiga lauded the collaborative spirit of the consultations, stating that these proposals offer a path to “move forward and turn the dark pages” of Mali’s recent history. These guidelines align with the reforms stemming from the National Refoundation Conference (ANR) and the new Constitution adopted in July 2023, within a post-coup context where the transitional authorities have expressed a clear intention to redefine Mali’s fundamental institutional framework.
AC/Sf/fss/abj/APA