Constitution of Mali

Mali's current constitution was approved by referendum on 18 June 2023, with about 97 percent of participating voters in favor on a turnout of roughly 38 percent, and entered into force on 22 July 2023 after certification by the Constitutional Court. It replaced the 1992 constitution, which had already been repeatedly disrupted by coups in 2012, 2020 and 2021. The new text expands presidential power, making the prime minister accountable to the president rather than the National Assembly, creates an upper legislative chamber called the Senate with a quarter of its members presidentially appointed, demotes French from official to working-language status while recognizing Mali's native languages as national languages, entrenches a five-year, two-term presidential limit alongside the secular republic and multi-party system as unamendable provisions, creates two additional northern regions, legalizes traditional courts, and grants amnesty to those involved in the 2020 coup.