Mali’s military rulers target economic independence

Once dissenting voices are systematically silenced, independent media outlets shuttered, and a heavy shroud cast over free expression, authoritarian regimes inevitably face a formidable hurdle: the economic autonomy of their populace. This pattern is a historical hallmark of dictatorships: achieving absolute control over a population necessitates not only regulating their thoughts but also dictating their sustenance and means of livelihood.

Mali’s military transitional government recently exemplified this anticipated shift. Under the guise of an appealing administrative initiative — the high-profile signing of a « Charter for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) » — the regime marks a significant new phase. What official propaganda portrays as an effort to « structure » the private sector is, in truth, a strategic political move to seize control over the freedom to conduct business.

Economic control: the final pillar of authoritarianism

In a nation where the informal economy sustains over 90% of the population and serves as the primary means of survival for youth and women, this sudden push for regulatory oversight is far from innocuous. Within any dictatorial system, the informal sector is perceived as a threat; by its very nature, it evades state surveillance, official registries, and thus direct governmental control.

By attempting to label, classify, and subject small traders, artisans, and transporters to new state-imposed criteria, the authorities are not aiming to simplify business operations but rather to extend their pervasive influence. In a climate where financial institutions and public aid mechanisms are now subservient to the ruling power, this charter lays the groundwork for a potent tool of clientelism. Moving forward, access to credit, public contracts, or even the legal right to operate may hinge on political allegiance or silence regarding the regime’s excesses.

Funding and electricity: the true ignored challenges

The official rhetoric claims to address the energy and financial crises currently stifling Mali’s economic fabric. However, the reality on the ground contradicts this superficial concern. According to data from the Banque mondiale, nearly 40% of the country’s formal businesses identify lack of access to credit and persistent electricity outages as their primary impediments.

Neither charters nor elaborate ceremonies at the Conseil national du patronat will power generators or lower interest rates. By diverting attention to a new regulatory framework instead of tackling failing infrastructure, the authorities mask their own inability to provide the fundamental services essential for economic vitality.

One freedom never exists without the other

The history of autocratic regimes consistently demonstrates that there is no impermeable barrier separating freedoms. Political liberties cannot be confiscated without eventually encroaching upon economic liberties.

By suppressing freedom of expression, the government ensured that entrepreneurs burdened by taxes or power cuts could no longer publicly voice their dissent. Today, by attacking the freedom to undertake business under the pretext of « structuring, » the Malian regime attempts to close the last remaining avenue of autonomy for its citizens: the ability to provide for themselves without depending on the whims of the military in power. Such economic centralization, in other contexts, has consistently led to widespread impoverishment and the collapse of private initiatives.