Government and power in Mali

Who leads Mali, how the World Bank's governance indicators score it, how many women sit in parliament and government, what the state spends and taxes, and the official bodies that hold power to account. System of government: Unitary republic under a military-led transition.

Who leads Mali?

• Head of state: Le Général d'Armée Assimi Goïta (Président de la Transition, Chef de l'État de la République du Mali)
• Head of government: Le Général de Division Abdoulaye Maïga (Premier Ministre, Chef du Gouvernement, Ministre de l'Administration territoriale et de la Décentralisation de la République du Mali)
• Foreign minister: Abdoulaye Diop (Ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la Coopération internationale de la République du Mali)

Source: Heads of State, Heads of Government, Ministers for Foreign Affairs: Public List (United Nations Protocol and Liaison Service), list dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.

Governance scores

The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators combine surveys of households and firms with assessments by public, private and non-governmental bodies. Each score runs from 0 to 100; higher means the sources rate governance better. They measure perceptions, and each has a margin of error.

Voice and accountability

Measures how far citizens can choose their government, and freedom of expression, association and the media.

Political stability and absence of violence

Measures the likelihood of political instability or politically motivated violence, including terrorism.

Government effectiveness

Measures the quality of public services and the civil service, and how independent they are from political pressure.

Regulatory quality

Measures the government's ability to make and carry out policies that let the private sector develop.

Rule of law

Measures confidence in and respect for the rules of society, including contract enforcement, property rights, the police and the courts.

Control of corruption

Measures how far public power is used for private gain, including petty and grand corruption and "capture" of the state by elites.

Official bodies that hold power in Mali

Government

• Presidency of the Republic
  Presidential communiqués, Council of Ministers reports and official speeches.

Parliament

• Transitional National Council
  Laws adopted, session news and member information of the transitional legislature.

Courts

• Supreme Court of Mali
  Court decisions, judicial news and information on the Supreme Court's chambers.
• Constitutional Court of Mali
  Rulings on constitutionality and election results.

Public audit

• Office of the Auditor General
  Annual and audit reports on the management of public funds.

Asset declarations

• Central Office for Combating Illicit Enrichment (OCLEI)
  Reports on the fight against illicit enrichment and information on asset declarations by public officials.

Public contracts

• General Directorate of Public Procurement (DGMP-DSP)
  Electronic public procurement in Mali: tender notices, procurement plans and contract award notices.
• Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (ARMDS)
  Procurement regulation, decisions on complaints, audits of procurement and lists of excluded companies.

Laws and the official gazette

• General Secretariat of the Government
  The Journal officiel and texts of laws, ordinances and decrees.

Government below the national level

• Regions (19 in law; about 10 fully operational in 2021) and the District of Bamako: Governor appointed by central government; regional council elected (last in 2009, mandates extended); interim authorities in some northern regions since 2017
• Cercles (58): Prefect appointed by central government; cercle council elected (last in 2009, mandates extended)
• Communes (750) and arrondissements: Communal council elected by proportional representation (last in 2016); head of the leading list becomes mayor. Sub-prefects for arrondissements are appointed
• Villages, fractions (nomadic groups) and neighbourhoods: Chiefs chosen by custom and formally appointed by the state's representative

How local power works in Mali

Places in Mali

• All 20 capital districts
• The 6 largest cities
• Official statistics for Mali

Sources

• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Voice and accountability (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 70f2804fd1e2…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Political stability and absence of violence (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1317de0c85e1…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Government effectiveness (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a775e808dc65…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Regulatory quality (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83b57e36ff8c…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Rule of law (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0bccc3c054e8…)
• World Bank: Worldwide Governance Indicators: Control of corruption (governance score 0-100), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3b15a5340cdd…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Seats held by women in national parliament (SG.GEN.PARL.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1ae1dc13981a…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Women in ministerial positions (SG.GEN.MNST.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a4e448a5b8bd…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Central government spending (GC.XPN.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 808094019f50…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Tax revenue (GC.TAX.TOTL.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08c94b750f31…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Military spending (MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a7f6913a783b…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Armed forces personnel (MS.MIL.TOTL.P1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fa4663c743ba…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Statistical Performance Indicator (overall score) (IQ.SPI.OVRL), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 08ac7cde9129…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: Births registered (SP.REG.BRTH.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f8d443034ba7…)
• World Bank: World Development Indicators: People using the internet (IT.NET.USER.ZS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0d78dc658329…)

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.