Malian Junta Leader Goïta To Stay in Power Till 2030

Malian military strongman, General Assimi Goïta, has cemented his grip on power for the next five years, following a state-backed national conference widely criticized as a bid to legitimize his authoritarian rule. The conference, boycotted by major opposition factions and civil society groups, has recommended extending Goïta’s transitional presidency until 2030, further delaying elections initially pledged for 2022, in a contentious move amplifying concerns over democratic backsliding

The 41-year-old general, who first seized control in a 2020 coup and tightened his hold with a second power grab in 2021, was anointed transitional president with promises to restore civilian rule. However, hopes for democratic renewal have dimmed as the junta indefinitely postponed elections, citing rampant jihadist violence. A 48-page resolution from the regime-organized conference advocates suspending all electoral processes until “lasting peace” is achieved—a vague timeline critics argue grants the military unchecked authority.

Goïta’s regime has stirred Mali away from its former colonial ally, France, expelling French troops and deepening security ties with Russia’s Wagner mercenary group. This realignment mirrors alliances with junta-led neighbors Burkina Faso and Niger, both of which followed Mali in exiting the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) earlier this year after the bloc demanded swift transitions to democracy. The tri-nation “Alliance of Sahel States” now faces escalating insurgencies linked to ISIS and al-Qaeda, with militants controlling swaths of rural territory.

The national conference, dismissed by opponents as a sham, has ignited fierce debate over a proposal to dissolve political parties failing to meet undefined “patriotic” criteria, and while the junta insists the measure targets divisive factions, international researcher Ousmane Diallo condemned it as “a flagrant assault on fundamental freedoms.” Opposition figure, Mohamed Salia Touré, warned that dismantling Mali’s multi-party system would “erase 30 years of democratic progress,” urging regional actors to challenge the junta’s power play.

Goïta’s rise dates back to August 2020, when he ousted elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta amid mass protests over corruption and insecurity. Initially appointing a civilian transitional government under ECOWAS pressure, he overthrew his handpicked leaders nine months later, citing incompetence. Promoted to five-star general in 2023, Goïta has since marginalized dissent, muzzled journalists, and delayed reforms demanded by international partners.

With ECOWAS influence waning and jihadist violence unabated, analysts fear Mali’s crisis could embolden military regimes across the Sahel. As Goïta consolidates his junta’s alliance with Russia and regional coup leaders, the path to democracy appears increasingly narrowed. The international community, once reliant on French counterterrorism efforts, now faces a strategic vacuum—and a populace weary of both militant bloodshed and authoritarian overreach.