Mali’s transitional parliament has approved a controversial bill that formally grants military ruler General Assimi Goita an unelected presidential mandate renewable indefinitely without elections.
The bill, which was unanimously approved by all 131 members of the transitional assembly present, effectively allows Goita to continue ruling without a civilian vote, with the mandate renewable “as many times as necessary.”
Goita, 41, has held presidential powers since August 2020, following a military coup that ousted then-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. The junta had accused Keïta of failing to address Mali’s worsening security crisis in the north, where Islamist militant violence has surged.
Thursday’s parliamentary approval paves the way for Goita to remain in power until at least 2030, deepening concerns about the country’s democratic trajectory.
The Malian military-led government has repeatedly resisted both regional and international pressure to organize elections or commit to a timeline for restoring democratic civilian rule.
The new legislation marks a significant consolidation of power by Goita and raises alarms about long-term military dominance in Malian politics amid growing isolation from the West and key regional bodies like ECOWAS.
