Mali’s junta leader, General Assimi Goita, has signed a law granting himself a renewable five-year term without an election, effectively allowing him to rule indefinitely.
The law, made public on Thursday, states Goita will serve “as head of state for a term of five (05) years, renewable as many times as necessary, until the country is pacified.”
The measure was passed last week by the military-appointed legislature and adopted earlier by the Council of Ministers. It follows a national consultation earlier this year, largely boycotted by political groups, which recommended proclaiming Goita president without a vote.
Goita had initially pledged to return Mali to civilian rule by March 2024 but failed to honour that commitment. The junta has since dissolved all political parties and organisations and banned meetings, amid calls for national unity under military leadership.
Goita’s regime has pivoted from France toward Russia, teaming up with Burkina Faso and Niger in the Alliance of Sahel States. Meanwhile, Mali’s Russian mercenaries face ongoing allegations of civilian abuses.
Despite growing restrictions, Goita remains popular with some citizens who see him as a symbol of sovereignty and reform.