Mali's Transitional Council, led by General Malick Diaw, convened on October 3, 2026, for its ordinary session. The session will focus on examining the 2027 budget and over 30 proposed laws. General Diaw began the session by paying tribute to General Sadio Camara, who was killed on April 25, 2026. He praised Camara's efforts and affirmed that his combat would continue. The session marks a crucial step in Mali's legislative process.
General Diaw also acknowledged the presence of Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga and government members. He highlighted the country's challenging context, characterized by terrorism and geostrategic challenges in the Sahel region. Despite these difficulties, Diaw noted that Mali has shown resilience in the face of fuel and electricity shortages. He credited the government's efforts, along with those of transporters, populations, and the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa), for mitigating these issues.
The Transitional Council's president expressed gratitude to the Head of State, General Assimi Goïta, for his efforts in defense and for the populations. He cited recent inaugurations of military premises and a military polyclinic as examples. General Diaw reaffirmed the council's support for defense and security forces, as well as the unified forces of the Sahel States' Confederation (AES). This reaffirmation underscores the council's commitment to regional cooperation.
General Diaw reviewed the inaugural session of the Confederation's parliaments, held in Niamey from August 24 to 29, 2026. The session focused on security, police cooperation, free movement, and media issues. He congratulated three Malian members elected to commissions and condemned a destabilization attempt in Niger on August 28-29, 2026. Diaw called on AES populations to remain vigilant against disinformation.
The session will examine the 2027 budget, over 30 proposed laws, and organic laws related to the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, Court of Auditors, and National Language Council. General Diaw emphasized that the budget is a significant political act, subject to war constraints and social expectations. He stressed that parliamentary control should aim for public action effectiveness.
General Diaw reported on the council's activities during the intersession period. These included parliamentary missions to Dakar, Abidjan, and Lomé to verify goods storage and exchange fluidity. The council also conducted field visits on agriculture, livestock, and fishing, and met with civil society representatives. Additionally, they participated in international gatherings, such as the 81st UN General Assembly and the 153rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly.
In his closing remarks, General Diaw called for national unity and solidarity. He urged members to take responsibility for building "Mali Kura" (New Mali). The president also encouraged the reopening of schools closed due to insecurity and praised the creation of the Malian Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Center (CIAR-Mali). Furthermore, he congratulated the U18 women's basketball team on their African title.
Key points
- The Transitional Council will examine the 2027 budget and over 30 proposed laws during its session.
