Dr. Ahmadou Touré, a renowned expert in governance and security, has emphasized that Mali's refondation politique et sociétale cannot be reduced to mere technical or bureaucratic adjustments. According to him, this process requires a courageous return to the nation's founding principles, reinterrogating the values that unite Malians as a nation. The expert argues that three decades of constitutional reforms, textual revisions, and electoral system adjustments have failed to prevent deep-seated crises and repeated institutional ruptures.
Dr. Touré asserts that the current refondation efforts must go beyond institutional engineering or superficial legal changes. He stresses that the process involves fundamentally reexamining the principles of living together, including the values that foster reciprocal trust among citizens, the legitimacy of public authority, and the conditions for durable cohesion. The expert warns that without this profound reinterrogation, reforms will remain superficial and prone to failure.
The researcher notes that previous reforms have focused on external forms rather than addressing the root causes of Mali's problems. He argues that the multiplication of legislative texts, electoral commissions, and decentralization structures has not led to a stable national cohesion. Dr. Touré attributes this failure to the assumption that stability can be achieved through mechanical or procedural means, such as regular elections or formal multipartyism, without addressing the underlying social contract.
Dr. Touré describes the current crisis as a complex interplay of factors, including a crisis of values, loss of civic bearings, and rejection of the central state. He attributes this crisis to the erosion of traditional solidarity, dignity, and responsibility, exacerbated by economic precariousness, multidimensional violence, and individualism. The expert emphasizes that rebuilding a shared sense of purpose and trust in institutions is crucial to addressing Mali's deep-seated challenges.
The expert highlights the importance of mobilizing endogenous resources, including traditional values such as honor, dignity, and solidarity, to drive the refondation process. He argues that these values, which have historically regulated conflicts and managed diversity, must be reactualized and articulated with contemporary requirements of equality, justice, and modern citizenship.
Dr. Touré also underscores the role of traditional and religious legitimacy in mediating and regulating social relations at the local level. He emphasizes that these forms of legitimacy must operate within the framework of the rule of law, without competing with or delegitimizing the state's monopoly on legitimate violence and justice.
Ultimately, Dr. Touré's analysis underscores the need for a comprehensive and courageous approach to Mali's refondation politique et sociétale. This involves not only institutional reforms but also a profound reexamination of the nation's values, social contract, and relationship with the state. By engaging with these complex challenges, Mali can work towards a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Key points
- Dr. Ahmadou Touré emphasizes that Mali's refondation politique et sociétale requires a return to the nation's founding principles and a reinterrogation of the values that unite Malians as a nation.
- The expert argues that previous reforms have failed to address the root causes of Mali's problems, focusing on external forms rather than the underlying social contract.
- Dr. Touré highlights the importance of mobilizing endogenous resources, including traditional values, to drive the refondation process and promote a more inclusive and sustainable future.
