former malian minister joins imam dicko’s coalition amid political crisis

Hamma Ag Mahmoud, a former minister of Labour and Public Administration from 1986 to 1988 under General Moussa Traoré‘s military regime, later served as prefect in multiple Malian regions including Sikasso, Koulikoro, Ségou, Gao, and Tombouctou. In 2012, he joined the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) during the Tuareg rebellion and played a key role in negotiating the 2015 peace agreement with the Malian government.

A call to unite against national decline

Exiled in Mauritania since 2011, Hamma Ag Mahmoud has now publicly declared his alignment with the Coalition of Forces for the Republic (CFR). “We are in a period of deep crisis, with the nation unraveling at the seams,” he stated. Malians must unite behind a shared vision for our society where everyone finds their place. The CFR has taken the initiative—all citizens should join to organize a national conference that corrects past mistakes.”

He emphasized the political class’s failures: “The rise of rebellions and jihadist groups in Mali stems from the political elite’s inability to deliver. People need a unifying political project.”

Reconciliation through inclusive governance

Despite public wariness toward engaging with armed groups—particularly al-Qaeda-linked JNIM—Mahmoud insists dialogue is essential. “Integrating these groups into a national project could end the conflict,” he argued. Restoring good governance would eliminate both jihadist threats and separatist rebellions.”

Recent shifts in JNIM’s rhetoric suggest a bid to position itself as a political actor in Mali, though its core objective—imposing sharia law—remains unchanged. Can negotiations with such a group occur within a republican framework?

“Absolutely,” Mahmoud responds. “All democratic principles—equality, justice—must be applied by including every Malian in the process.”