Colonel Assimi Goita Set To Extend Military Rule In Mali

Mali is set to extend its military rule after recommendations from a national dialogue said Colonel Assimi Goita, who seized power through a coup in 2020, should remain in power.

The result of the national dialogue has been a subject of controversy since it was made public that official opposition parties boycotted the discussions, as critics have accused the government of using the dialogue as a platform to maintain its grip on power.

During the dialogue, participants, who were mostly from the West African country’s military, proposed that Goita, who has been in power for close to four years, should contest in future elections.

Military coups in 2020 and 2021 ousted democracy in Mali as the Goita-led junta promised positive change and handover to civilian rule.

Goita’s transition promise has been halted by security concerns emerging from jihadist activities in the country.

Related: Military Coup: AU Suspends Mali, Threatens Sanctions

The junta strengthened its grip on power by suspending political activities in April and clamping down on the opposition, journalists, and civil rights activists.

Mali has formed a formidable relationship with Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea, which are all under military leadership.

They have set plans in place to fight off the insurgency that has bedeviled the region.

The trend of military coups in West Africa is hardly surprising as the region is confronted with the activities of terror groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, which the military believes it can solve.

The West African regional economic bloc ECOWAS and the African Union have imposed sanctions on countries ruled by the military, but they have done little to save the situation.