By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Four years after Mali’s military seized power in a coup, the nation remains plagued by worsening economic hardship, frequent power cuts, and deepening poverty.
Initially fueled by public frustration with corruption and deteriorating security under French-backed rule, the 2020 coup was seen by many as a path to improvement. However, residents like Oumar Diarra, a furniture maker, express growing discontent, stating, “The way they’ve handled the electricity situation is a problem…we are suffering enormously.” The military, which staged a second coup in 2021, has delayed promised elections indefinitely, further straining public trust.
Economic growth in Mali is expected to slow to 3.1% this year, with around 90% of the population living in poverty, according to the World Bank. Despite the challenges, some citizens, like Alkady Haidara from Bamako, remain hopeful, viewing the current hardship as a step towards greater independence from France. “Political independence without economic independence is meaningless,” Haidara noted.
Source: Reuters
