Mali’s Exiled Imam Emerges as Potential Unifying Force Against Junta
A prominent exiled imam, Mahmoud Dicko, may hold the key to uniting the Malian population against the country’s authoritarian junta leaders. Dicko, who inspired protests that led to the ousting of former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in a 2020 coup, has been living in Algeria since 2023. Initially, he supported the junta but was quickly sidelined and became a thorn in their side.
With his new movement, the Coalition of Forces for the Republic, Dicko aims to establish dialogue between various parties and overthrow the junta. As a religious leader and former head of the High Islamic Council of Mali, he hopes to rally a population exhausted by over a decade of conflict. The country has been plagued by jihadist attacks, including a crippling fuel blockade and attacks on industrial sites, which have suffocated the economy.
The Malian army and its Russian paramilitary allies have been accused of atrocities against civilians, while failing to stem jihadist attacks. This has created a sense of desperation among the population, with many seeing Dicko as a potential alternative to the regime of General Assimi Goïta. A junta opponent in Bamako, who has joined Dicko’s movement, told AFP that “the current situation cannot continue” and that Dicko “appears to be one of the last cards to play.”
However, Dicko’s conservative religious views have raised questions about his ability to unite all Malians and maintain a secular state. His choice of exile in Algeria, a nation with strained diplomatic relations with Mali, has also been a source of irritation for the junta. Despite rumors of his return to Mali, Dicko has not yet done so, and his presence is still felt in the country.
The situation in Mali remains volatile, with the population growing increasingly frustrated with the junta’s inability to address the country’s security and economic challenges. As Dicko’s movement gains momentum, it remains to be seen whether he can unite the Malian population and bring about meaningful change. With the country at a crossroads, the international community will be watching closely to see how events unfold in this fragile West African nation.
