Mali’s junta leader elevates self to highest Army rank

The head of the military junta that seized power in Mali in 2020 promoted himself Wednesday to the rank of army general.

He has given himself the special title: Colonel Assimi Goita of the land army, the highest military distinction held only by two former heads of state in the country’s history.

The move by Goita is a sign that he has no intention of ceding power to civilians in the landlocked West African country.

The announcement was made by the Council of Ministers, which published a statement on the website of the Malian government’s general secretariat.

Five other highly influential colonels of the Malian military junta were also promoted “exceptionally” to the rank of four-star generals.

“This is another indication that junta leaders will continue to position themselves as the only rulers, and have no intention of having a democratic transition into civilian rule anytime soon,” said Rida Lyammouri, senior fellow at the Morocco-based Policy Center for the New South.

No date has yet been set for Mali’s presidential election.

Why the coup?

Mali’s 2020 coup was sparked by a combination of factors, including widespread discontent with President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita’s government, corruption, and the country’s inability to resolve its internal conflict.

The situation was exacerbated by flawed legislative elections in March 2020, which had a historically low voter turnout of 7.5% and were marred by violence that forced some polling stations to close.

The final straw was when Mali’s Constitutional Court overturned election results for 31 legislative seats, prompting protests led by the June 5 Movement–Rally of Patriotic Force (M5-RFP), a group of organizations including Keita’s political opposition, civil society organizations, and followers of Imam Mahmoud Dicko.

Government corruption, perceived or real, was a significant factor in the coup. Many Malians saw Keita’s government as ineffective and corrupt, failing to address the country’s problems.

The flawed elections and subsequent court decisions further eroded trust in the government.

Mali’s ongoing struggle with extremist groups and instability in the north and center of the country also contributed to the coup.

The military, which had been fighting these groups, became increasingly frustrated with the government’s handling of the conflict.

Additionally, economic hardship, particularly the economic contraction due to IMF austerity programs, hit the middle and lower classes especially hard, fueling discontent.

The coup was led by senior military officers who cited the government’s ineffectiveness and corruption in handling the conflict in the north and center of the country.

This development has significant implications for Mali’s democracy and the stability of the entire Sahel region.

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