Politics of Mali

Mali
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Mali

Until the military coup of March 22, 2012[1][2] and a second military coup in December 2012[3] the Politics of Mali took place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Mali is head of state with a Presidentially appointed Prime Minister as the head of government, and of a 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.

Executive branch

Main office holders
Office Name Party Since
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta Rally for Mali 4 September 2013
Prime Minister Abdoulaye Idrissa Maïga Rally for Mali 9 April 2017

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 by direct popular vote. He is limited to two terms. The president appoints the prime minister as head of government. The president chairs the Council of Ministers (the prime minister and currently 27 other ministers), which adopts a proposals for laws submitted to the National Assembly for approval of them.

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 Malians 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.

Political parties and elections

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.

 Summary of the 29 April 2007 Mali presidential election results
Candidates – Parties Votes %
Amadou Toumani Touré Independent; supported by Alliance for Democracy in Mali 1,612,912 71.20
Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta Rally for Mali 433,897 19.15
Tiébilé Dramé Party for National Rebirth 68,956 3.04
Oumar Mariko African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence 61,670 2.72
Mamadou Blaise Sangaré Social Democratic Convention 35,776 1.58
Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga Convergences 2007 32,973 1.46
Sidibé Aminata Diallo Rally for Sustainable Education and Development 12,443 0.55
Madiassa Maguiraga 6,856 0.30
Total (turnout 36.24%) 2,265,483 100.0
Source: Constitutional Court[4]
 Summary of the 1 July and 22 July 2007 Malian parliamentary election results
Parties Votes % Seats
1st round		 Seats
2nd round		 Seats
abroad		 Total
seats
Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP) Alliance for Democracy in Mali (ADEMA) 9 42 — 51
Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD) 3 31 — 34
Patriotic Movement for Renewal (MPR) 0 8 — 8
National Congress for Democratic Initiative (CNID) 0 7 — 7
Union for Democracy and Development (UDD) 0 3 — 3
Movement for the Independence, Renaissance, and Integration of Africa (MIRIA) 0 2 — 2
Party for Solidarity and Progress (PSP) 0 2 — 2
Alternation Bloc for Renewal, Integration, and African Cooperation (BARICA) 0 2 — 2
Bloc for Democracy and African Integration (BDIA) 0 1 — 1
Citizens' Party for Revival (PCR) 0 1 — 1
National Rally for Democracy (RND) 1 0 — 1
Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally (US-RDA) 0 1 — 1
Front for Democracy and the Republic (FDR) Rally for Mali (RPM) 0 11 — 11
Party for National Rebirth (PARENA) 0 4 — 4
African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence (SADI) 0 4 — 4
Independents 0 15 — 15
Representatives of Malians living abroad — — 13 13
Total (turnout 33.39% in first round) 13 134 13 160
Source: Les Echos, Panapress, L'Essor

Mali's Government has a 49.9% life expectancy for males

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.

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.

Administrative divisions

Administratively, Mali is divided into eight regions (Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Ségou, Sikasso, Tombouctou) and the capital district of Bamako, each under the authority of an elected governor. Each region consists of five to nine districts (or Cercles), administered by Prefects. Cercles are divided into communes, which, in turn, are divided into villages or quarters.

A decentralisation and democratisation process began in the 1990s with the establishment of 702 elected municipal councils, headed by elected mayors, and previously appointed officials have been replaced with elected officials, which culminates in a National council of local officials. Other changes included greater local control over finances, and the reduction of administrative control by the central government.

Foreign relations

Mali is member of ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

References

  1. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mali/9161930/UN-Security-council-condemns-Mali-coup.html
  2. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mali/9161659/US-condemns-Mali-coup-amid-reports-of-looting.html
  3. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/12/world/africa/malis-prime-minister-arrested-by-military.html?_r=0
  4. ↑ "Mali / Présidentielle: la Cour constitutionnelle valide la réélection de Touré", AFP (Maliweb.net), 12 May 2007 (in French).
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