By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The head of Mali’s junta government, General Assimi Goita, has signed a law granting him a five-year presidential mandate, renewable “as many times as necessary” and without election.
The signing of the bill, passed by junta-appointed legislative body last week, was widely expected.
The law, which was leaked to the public on Thursday after it was signed by Goita on Tuesday, allows him to lead the West African country until at least 2030, despite the military government’s initial promise to return to civilian rule in March 2024.
The Sahelian nation’s military leadership has launched series of restrictions to consolidate its power.
The country’s cabinet, the Council of Ministers, had already adopted the tenure extension last month.
Under the law, Gen. Goita will be able to serve “as head of state for a term of five (05) years, renewable as many times as necessary, until the country is pacified”.
When Goita took power, he insisted on Mali’s commitment to the fight against jihadist violence and initially pledged a return to civilian rule.
He was celebrated in some quarters as a hero who might bring salvation to his troubled West African nation.
But he ultimately failed to fulfill his promise to cede power to elected civilians, which was to occur by March 2024.
Earlier this year, a junta-led national consultation recommended proclaiming Goita president without a vote for the five-year renewable term.
In May, the military government announced the dissolution of all political parties and organisations, as well as a ban on meetings.
Mali and its junta-led neighbours, Burkina Faso and Niger, have teamed up to create their own confederation, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and have announced the creation of a joint 5,000-strong force for joint military operations.
Since 2012, the country has been mired in violence carried out by jihadist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, as well as other criminal organisations.
