Editing Mali (section)

=== Government ===
[[File:Assimi Goita, August 2021.png|thumb|[[Assimi Goita]], interim president of Mali since [[2021 Malian coup d'état]]]]

Until the military coup of 22 March 2012,<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120323134828/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mali/9161659/US-condemns-Mali-coup-amid-reports-of-looting.html Video: US condemns Mali coup amid reports of looting]. Telegraph (22 March 2012). Retrieved 24 March 2013.</ref> Mali was a [[constitutional democracy]] governed by the Constitution of 12 January 1992, which was amended in 1999.<ref name=p14/> The constitution provides for a separation of powers among the executive, [[legislative]], and [[judicial]] branches of government.<ref name=p14>[[#Prof|Mali country profile]], p. 14.</ref> The system of government can be described as "[[semi-presidential]]".<ref name=p14/> Executive power is vested in a president, who is elected to a five-year term by [[universal suffrage]] and is limited to two terms.<ref name=p14/><ref>[[#Const|Constitution of Mali]], Art. 30.</ref>

The president serves as a [[chief of state]] and [[commander in chief]] of the armed forces.<ref name="p14" /><ref>[[#Const|Constitution of Mali]], Art. 29 & 46.</ref> A prime minister appointed by the president serves as head of government and in turn appoints the Council of Ministers.<ref name="p14" /><ref>[[#Const|Constitution of Mali]], Art. 38.</ref> The unicameral [[National Assembly (Mali)|National Assembly]] is Mali's sole legislative body, consisting of deputies elected to five-year terms.<ref name="p15">[[#Prof|Mali country profile]], p. 15.</ref><ref>[[#Const|Constitution of Mali]], Art. 59 & 61.</ref> Following the 2007 elections, the [[Alliance for Democracy and Progress (Mali)|Alliance for Democracy and Progress]] held 113 of 160 seats in the assembly.<ref>{{in lang|fr}} Koné, Denis. [http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200708131307.html Mali: "Résultats définitifs des Législatives"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229150933/http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200708131307.html |date=29 December 2012 }}. ''[[Les Échos (Mali)|Les Echos]]'' ([[Bamako]]) (13 August 2007). Retrieved 24 June 2008.</ref> The assembly holds two regular sessions each year, during which it debates and votes on legislation that has been submitted by a member or by the government.<ref name=p15/><ref>[[#Const|Constitution of Mali]], Art. 65.</ref>

Mali's constitution provides for an independent judiciary,<ref name="p15" /><ref>[[#Const|Constitution of Mali]], Art. 81.</ref> but the executive continues to exercise influence over the judiciary by virtue of power to appoint judges and oversee both judicial functions and law enforcement.<ref name="p15" /> Mali's highest courts are the Supreme Court, which has both judicial and administrative powers, and a separate Constitutional Court that provides judicial review of legislative acts and serves as an election arbiter.<ref name="p15" /><ref>[[#Const|Constitution of Mali]], Art. 83–94.</ref> Various lower courts exist, though village chiefs and elders resolve most local disputes in rural areas.<ref name="p15" />

The transition government pushed back the timetable for a new election, initially to be held in February 2022, to February 2024.<ref name="New Election">{{cite web |title=Mali's transition govt sets February 2024 for presidential election |url=https://www.africanews.com/2022/07/01/malis-transition-govt-sets-february-2024-for-presidential-election// |website=AfricaNews |access-date=18 August 2023 |date=1 July 2022 |archive-date=18 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818190836/https://www.africanews.com/2022/07/01/malis-transition-govt-sets-february-2024-for-presidential-election// |url-status=live }}</ref> In exchange for the government's commitment to a 2024 election, [[Economic Community of West African States|ECOWAS]] agreed to lift sanctions on the country.<ref name="ECOWAS sanctions lifted">{{cite web |last1=Melly |first1=Paul |title=Mali coup: How junta got Ecowas economic sanctions lifted |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-62037317 |website=BBC |access-date=18 August 2023 |date=6 July 2022 |archive-date=5 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805123950/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-62037317 |url-status=live }}</ref>