Hamma Ag Mahmoud served as Mali’s Minister of Labor and Public Service from 1986 to 1988 under the military regime of General Moussa Traoré. He later held prefect positions across multiple regions, including Sikasso, Koulikoro, Ségou, Gao, and Tombouctou. In 2012, he joined the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) during the rebellion, playing a key role in negotiating the 2015 peace agreement with the Malian government.

A plea for national unity

Now based in Mauritania since 2011, Hamma Ag Mahmoud has announced his formal alignment with the Coalition of Forces for the Republic (CFR). «Mali is in a deep crisis, with the country unraveling before our eyes», he declared. «All Malians must unite around a shared vision of society. The CFR has taken the initiative—every Malian should join us to organize a national conference that corrects past mistakes.»

He added, «The failures of the political class have fueled rebellions and the rise of Islamist groups. Malians deserve a unifying political project.»

Dialogue with jihadists: a controversial stance

The Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated group, has recently softened its rhetoric, positioning itself as a political actor while still advocating for Sharia law. Many Malians remain skeptical about engaging in dialogue with such groups, fearing further fragmentation. Hamma Ag Mahmoud disagrees: «Including them in a national project could end the conflict. Restoring good governance would eliminate the root causes of rebellion and extremism.»

He emphasized, «All principles of democracy—equality, justice—must be applied inclusively, bringing every Malian into the process.»