Mali’s President Assimi Goïta Grants Himself Unlimited Term in Power

Mali’s military leader, Colonel Assimi Goïta, has officially secured a renewable five-year presidential term that can be extended indefinitely, following the passage of a new law by the country’s transitional parliament. The move effectively removes any deadline for a return to civilian rule, raising concerns among citizens and the international community about democratic backsliding.

The legislation, passed by Mali’s National Transitional Council in early July 2025, allows Goïta to remain in power “until the country is pacified,” a vague condition with no clear timeline. This comes after repeated delays of elections previously promised for March 2024 and months after Goïta dissolved all political parties and banned political meetings, citing national security concerns. The law grants the junta leader an initial five-year term starting this year, which can be renewed without limit. Observers say this marks a decisive turn away from Mali’s transitional commitments made after the 2020 and 2021 military coups.

Opposition groups and civil society organizations have condemned the move as a clear attempt to entrench military rule. Protests erupted in the capital, Bamako, earlier this year, but were swiftly suppressed by security forces. International bodies including ECOWAS and the United Nations have expressed alarm, warning that Mali’s trajectory could further destabilize the Sahel region. With neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger also under military rule, Mali’s decision reinforces fears of a growing bloc of authoritarian regimes in West Africa. As of now, there is no announced timeline for elections or a clear pathway back to democratic governance.