On independence day, the address to the nation by the transitional president, army general Assimi Goïta, struck a triumphant tone. Between promises of economic growth, boasts of a rising military and sovereignist incantations, the executive rolled out its usual narrative. Yet a methodical comparison of official statements with realities on the ground reveals deep gaps, even glaring contradictions, with the daily lives of Malians.

Security and “rising power”: the illusion of territorial control

In his speech, the presidency painted the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) as “reorganised, equipped and victorious”, operating in synergy with their partners in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).

• The reality on the ground: The speech omits the extreme security deterioration observed in the centre and north of the country. Large-scale attacks by JNIM or separatists (such as the strategic disaster at Tinzawatène or the assaults on key garrisons like Dioura and Sévaré) prove that the army struggles to secure vital routes and rural populations.
• The illusion of military sovereignty: While the speech praises a “recovered autonomy”, operational dependence on the Russian paramilitary contingent Africa Corps (formerly Wagner) has increased at the cost of heavy financial and mining concessions, to the detriment of a truly republican army.

Economic mirages and opacity over mining revenues

The speech highlights a supposed growth rate above 5% or 6%, driven by the mobilisation of internal resources and the effects of reforms to the mining code.

• Stifling daily inflation: For most citizens in Bamako and the provinces, macroeconomic theory no longer masks the surge in prices of basic goods (rice, oil, sugar) and fuel.
• Energy management and power cuts: While the address mentions an “improvement in electricity supply”, the reality for households and SMEs remains marked by recurrent outages from the national utility EDM-SA, paralysing the informal economy and local production.
• Questionable mining benefits: The redistribution of mining funds touted by the authorities contrasts with the massive allocation of public revenues and mining licences to pay the bills of the foreign paramilitary partner.

Dialogue and reconciliation: rhetoric versus purges and political vacuum

The transitional president reiterated his call for “reconciliation” and “national cohesion” under the peace charter.

• Closing civic space: This call for unity comes amid an unprecedented silencing of critical voices. Political actors, journalists, human rights defenders and civil society figures face prosecution, detention or systematic intimidation as soon as they question the management of the transition.
• Break with northern actors: The unilateral denunciation of previous peace agreements and the all-military option have buried inclusive mediation mechanisms, replacing dialogue with a bellicose stalemate.

A self-congratulatory speech disconnected from urgent needs

By prioritising political communication over facts, the official narrative struggles to hide the cracks in a governance model under strain. Between the self-satisfaction displayed in the halls of Koulouba and the growing insecurity weighing on the provinces, the gap continues to widen between the promises of “Malikura” and the daily experience of the Malian people.

By Boureima Amadou — Reporter