Politics of Mali

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Mali
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Mali

President Amadou Toumani Touré Prime Minister Ousmane Issoufi Maïga National Assembly Elections: 2007 presidential 2007 parliamentary Political Parties Regions Cercles (circles) Foreign relations Foreign aid Human rights
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Politics of Mali takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Mali is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

1 Executive branch
2 Legislative branch
3 Political parties and elections
4 Judicial branch
5 Administrative divisions
6 International organization participation

[edit] Executive branch

Main office holders
Office	Name	Party	Since
President	Amadou Toumani Touré		8 June 2002
Prime Minister	Ousmane Issoufi Maïga		29 April 2004

Under Mali's 1992 constitution, the president is chief of state and commander in chief of the armed forces. The president is elected to 5-year terms, with a limit of two terms. The president appoints the prime minister as head of government. The president chairs the Council of Ministers (the prime minister and currently 22 other ministers, including 6 women), which adopts proposals for laws submitted to the National Assembly for approval.

[edit] Legislative branch

The National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) has 160 members, elected for a five year term, 147 members elected in single-seat constituencies and 13 members elected by the Malinese abroad. The National Assembly is the sole legislative arm of the government. Representation is apportioned according to the population of administrative districts. Election is direct and by party list. The term of office is 5 years. The Assembly meets for two regular sessions each year. It debates and votes on legislation proposed either by one of its members or by the government and has the right to question government ministers about government actions and policies. Eight political parties, aggregated into four parliamentary groups, are represented in the Assembly. ADEMA currently holds the majority; minority parties are represented in all committees and in the Assembly directorate.

[edit] Political parties and elections

The following election results include names of political parties. See for additional information about parties the List of political parties in Mali. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Mali.

Mali's constitution provides for a multi-party democracy, with the only restriction being a prohibition against parties based on ethnic, religious, regional, or gender lines. In addition to those political parties represented in the National Assembly, others are active in municipal councils.

[discuss] – [edit]
**Summary of the 28 April and 12 May 2002 Malian presidential election results**
Candidates - Parties	%	%
Amadou Toumani Touré	28.0	64.4
Soumaïla Cissé - Alliance for Democracy in Mali	22.7	35.7
Ibrahim Boubacar Keita - Rally for Mali	20.7	-
Others Manda Sidibe Mamadou Maribatourou Diaby - Party for Unity, Progress and Democracy Ahmed El Madani Diallo Choguel Kokalla Maiga - Patriotic Movement for Renewal	28.6	-
Total (turnout 36.8/30.2 %)	100.0	100.0
Source: Rulers.

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**Summary of the 14 July 2002 National Assembly of Mali election results**
Parties		%	Seats
Hope 2002 (Espoir 2002)	Rally for Mali (Rassemblement pour le Mali)		46
	National Congress for Democratic Initiative (Congres Nationale pour la Initiative Démocratie)		13
	Patriotic Movement for Renewal (Mouvement Patriotique pour le Renouveau)		5
	Rally for Labour Democracy (Rassemblement pour la Démocratie du Travail)		1
Alliance for Republic and Democracy (Alliance pour la République et la démocratie)	Alliance for Democracy in Mali-Pan-African Party for Liberty, Solidarity and Justice (Alliance pour la Démocratie en Mali-Parti Pan-Africain pour la Liberté, la Solidarité et la Justice)		45
	Others		6
Convergence for Alternance and Change (Convergence pour l'Alternance et changement)	Party for National Renewal (Parti pour la renaissance nationale)	.	10
	Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally (Union Soudanaise-Rassemblement Démocratique Africain)	.	10
African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence (Solidarité Africaine pour la Démocratie et l'Indépendance)		.	6
Non-partisans		.	6
Annulled elections		.	8
Malians from abroad			13
Total (turnout %)			160
Source: African Elections

[edit] Judicial branch

Mali's legal system is based on codes inherited at independence from France. New laws have been enacted to make the system conform to Malian life, but French colonial laws not abrogated still have the force of law. The constitution provides for the independence of the judiciary. However, the Ministry of Justice appoints judges and supervises both law enforcement and judicial functions. The Supreme Court has both judicial and administrative powers. Under the constitution, there is a separate constitutional court and a high court of justice with the power to try senior government officials in cases of treason.

[edit] Administrative divisions

Administratively, Mali is divided into eight regions (Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou) and the capital district of Bamako, each under the authority of an appointed governor. Each region consists of five to nine districts (or Cercles), administered by commandants. Cercles are divided into communes, which, in turn, are divided into villages or quarters. Plans for decentralization have begun with the establishment of 702 elected municipal councils, headed by elected mayors. Further plans envision election of local officials, greater local control over finances, and the reduction of administrative control by the central government.