Year 1 of the Fourth Republic of Mali: The signal is green

July 22, 2023 July 22, 2024. It has been exactly one year since the new Constitution of Mali was promulgated by the Transitional President, Colonel Assimi Gota, after the referendum consultation on June 18, 2023, and was clearly accepted by the Malians with a 96.91% approval rate. One year later, the observations are clear: major reforms are underway and the country is reborn from the ashes.

Governing is to serve, not to serve oneself. In line with this idea of ​​the Roman philosopher Senque, the transitional President, Colonel Assimi Gota, has been working since the beginning of the transition to ensure lasting peace in Mali and restore the country to its former glory.

That is why he has launched various initiatives that are certainly complex but necessary to recalibrate the management of the country and to establish good governance and accountability. Malians are therefore asked to go to the polls on June 18, 2023 for a referendum review. This decision is not imposed by another country, nor is it a non-sovereign decision. In fact, it was requested by the Malians themselves at a national reconstruction conference.

In his speech, President Goita said that it was with great pride and hope that I had just signed the text of the Constitution adopted by the people in the referendum on June 18, 2023, and the final result was announced by the Constitutional Court on July 21. The Malian people promulgated the above-mentioned Constitution on July 22, 2023, and then added that the Act of Promulgation of the Constitution () paved the way for the birth of the Fourth Republic of Mali.

At the end of the referendum, the people expressed their support for the new constitution with an absolute majority of 96.91%. This, he recalled, was indisputable proof of the Malians’ desire to give themselves a new chance and to start afresh. Moreover, he explained, the new constitution laid the foundations of a democratic system that is nourished by endogenous and social aspirations and enriched by external contributions. We have proven that we can modernize our country without denying ourselves.

revival

“With this new constitution, Mali is moving towards a new beginning in Mali Koura, where together we will build a strong economy that meets the needs of citizens. This will be, as we have already begun, to create the conditions for internal economic growth, based on new technologies and on industries transforming natural resources, taking into account the opportunities of the energy transition,” he said. One year later, the observations are in. The results are eloquent. Mali under the Fourth Republic has achieved success at the national level and now also has an international impact,” he said.

Today, Decree N2023-401/PT-RM of July 22, 2023 promulgated the new Constitution, which will allow the transitional authorities to implement ambitious reforms. Among them, the strengthening of the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) in accordance with article 93 of the new Constitution is already evident on the ground. In addition, the recognition of traditional authority by the transitional president strengthens governance and decentralization.

Sovereignty measures also include promoting traditional languages ​​as official languages, relegating French to a working language, a change that is already evident in the official speeches of the transitional authorities. From now on, the President of the Republic will decide on state policy and the government will implement it, unlike under the old constitution, when the government decided on state policy.

Finally, the new Constitution stipulates that the development and use of natural resources must respect environmental protection standards for the benefit of present and future generations. This is reflected in new operating contracts and the revision of old ones, thus ensuring a more equitable and sustainable management of our natural resources.

Major reforms are underway

That’s not all. Other major reforms are planned for the coming days. This involves the addition of the Court of Auditors to the list of institutions of the Republic; the Economic and Social Council becomes the Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Council, while the High Court and the High Council of Territorial Communities disappear from the list of institutions of the Republic. In addition, in the new Constitution, the President of the Republic determines state policy, Parliament will no longer be able to vote on motions of censure of the Government and the President of the Republic will be able to dissolve Parliament.

Despite the skeptical predictions of many politicians, the patriotic dynamics of the transitional authorities, and the fact that they have been defeated before 2020, remain a historic feat. Because, a year after the new constitution, the signal is on in Mali. Current and future reforms promise to transform the country into a stronger, fairer and more prosperous one.

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