Latest news with #jihadistviolence
France 24
10-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Mali junta chief Assimi Goïta grants his own unlimited presidential mandate
Mali 's junta chief has granted himself a five-year presidential mandate, renewable "as many times as necessary" and without election, in a law made public Thursday. General Assimi Goïta 's approval of the measure had been widely expected for several days, and comes after the country's military-appointed legislative body passed the bill last week. The law, which was leaked to the public after being signed by Goita Tuesday, allows him to lead the west African country until at least 2030, despite the military government's initial pledge to return to civilian rule in March 2024. It is the latest in a series of restrictions on freedoms by Mali's military leadership to consolidate its power in the jihadist-hit Sahelian nation. The country's cabinet, the Council of Ministers, had already adopted the measure last month. Under the law Goita will be able to serve "as head of state for a term of five (05) years, renewable as many times as necessary, until the country is pacified". When Goïta took power, he insisted on Mali's commitment to the fight against jihadist violence and initially pledged a return to civilian rule. He was even celebrated in some quarters as a hero who might bring salvation to his troubled west African nation. But he ultimately failed to make good on his promise to cede power to elected civilians, which was to occur by March 2024. Earlier this year, a junta-led national consultation recommended proclaiming Goïta president without a vote for the five-year renewable term. The same assembly – boycotted by most political groups – also recommended the dissolution of political parties and tougher rules for their creation. Subsequently, the junta announced in May the dissolution of all political parties and organisations, as well as a ban on meetings. The ongoing squeeze on Mali's civic space comes against a backdrop of clamour by authorities for the country to unite behind the military. Turning point Goïta's rule has marked a turning point in Mali's relationship with the West. The country has broken ties with France and other former allies and pivoted toward Russia. Mali and its junta-led neighbours Burkina Faso and Niger have teamed up to create their own confederation, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and have announced the creation of a joint 5,000-strong force for joint military operations. Meanwhile its Russian mercenary allies from the Africa Corps, tasked in particular with tracking down jihadists, are regularly accused of rights violations against civilians alongside the Malian army. Since 2012, Mali has been mired in violence carried out by jihadist groups affiliated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State group, as well as other criminal organisations. Those attacks have only intensified in recent weeks.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Assimi Goïta: Mali military leader granted five-year term in power
Mali's military leader Gen Assimi Goïta has been granted a five-year presidential term by the transitional parliament, which is renewable without junta leader, who has seized power twice, had promised the return of democracy last year, but it never materialised. The bill granting his new mandate said the transition would last "as many times as necessary" and until Mali was "pacified".It clears Gen Goïta to lead the West African country until at least 2030, with many fearing the move could lead to the repression of the opposition or dissenting opinions. The 41-year-old military leader was named transitional president after his last coup in the time he promised to hold elections the following year - but has since reneged, in a blow to efforts to restore multi-party transitional bill was on Thursday unanimously approved by 131 members of the National Transitional Council, which is composed of 147 legislators. The council had already adopted the measure in president of the legislative body, Malick Diaw, called the development "a major step forward in the rebuilding of Mali". "The adoption of this text is in accordance with the popular will," he bill allows the transitional president, government and legislative members to stand in presidential and general military government has been trying to quell jihadist violence unleashed by groups linked with the Islamic State (IS) and taking power, the junta leader has formed an alliance with coup leaders in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, pivoting the region towards Russia after cutting ties with former colonial power Goïta has also withdrawn Mali from the regional grouping Ecowas over its demands to restore democratic rule. Burkina Faso and Niger have also left the first staged a coup in August 2020 overthrowing then-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta after huge anti-government protests against his rule and his handling of the jihadist these attacks have continued and even intensified since he took Goïta handed power to an interim government that was to oversee the transition to elections within 18 had sought to lead that government, but Ecowas insisted on a civilian with the performance of the civilian transitional arrangement, he seized power again in May 2021. You may also be interested in: The region with more 'terror deaths' than rest of world combinedThree military-run states leave West African bloc - what will change?Why young Africans are celebrating military takeovers Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
