Mali, a country located in Western Africa, is currently facing an economic crisis after four years of military rule. Many residents have said that the financial situation in the country is getting worse and that constant power cuts are not only affecting the country’s households but also hurting businesses. The current military rulers in the country, who got into power through a second coup in 2021, have promised to hold elections in February but postponed it indefinitely due to technical reasons. While expectations for economic growth in Mali are not very promising, some residents say they remain hopeful, viewing the current hardship as the price for a better future.

“Political independence without economic independence is meaningless,” said Alkady Haidara, a resident of Mali’s capital, Bamako. Haidara further affirms that this crisis moment “is part of life”, reflecting on his belief that Malians should be patient because it is necessary to “go through a difficult time to have a brighter moment.” However, it is hard to remain hopeful and patient when constant power cuts affect people’s daily lives. “If the head of the family goes out in the morning and comes back at night without being able to work to bring something to his family, it will affect the children, the women, and everyday life,” affirms Allasana Ag Agaly, a silversmith.

It is common for countries with a transitional government to face political instability and economic hardship, but it doesn’t exempt leaders from holding responsibility. According to the World Bank, the economic growth in Mali is expected to slow to 3.1% this year from 3.5% last year, rising extreme poverty levels. With about 90% of Mali’s population living in poverty, the government needs to take action to address this crisis in the short and long term as soon as possible. Indeed, “the government has to make an effort because we are suffering enormously,” said the furniture maker Oumar Diarra.

The country faced two coups in the last four years, one in 2020, which helped set off a wave of coups in the Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert, and the other in 2021, which put in power the current military rulers of Mali. A new constitution was ratified in 2023, which enhanced the powers of the President and the armed forces, making the military junta remain firmly in control of the government. This series of events helped increase the instability in the country, making it even harder to manage the huge economic crisis it is facing right now.

As the economic and political situation in the country remains unstable, ensuring basic human rights for the population becomes a hard but necessary task. The transitional government needs to be held accountable for its actions and keep its promise of holding elections soon. In moments like this, establishing a stable government becomes crucial to managing the economic crisis and ensuring peace for its citizens.