The illusion of structure: how Mali’s military regime targets economic freedom

After systematically silencing dissenting voices and dismantling independent media, authoritarian systems eventually face a significant hurdle: the financial autonomy of their citizens. Historical patterns show that to maintain absolute power, a regime must control not only the public narrative but also the means by which people survive and prosper.

The military transition in Mali has recently demonstrated this shift. Under the facade of a sophisticated administrative move—the high-profile signing of a “Charter for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)”—the government is initiating a new phase of intervention. What state propaganda describes as a supportive hand to “structure” the private sector is, in reality, a political takeover of entrepreneurial independence.

Economic oversight as a tool of authority

In a country where the informal economy supports more than 90% of the population and serves as the primary engine for youth and women’s survival, this sudden urge for regulation is far from innocent. Within any dictatorial framework, the informal sector is viewed as a threat because it operates beyond the reach of state surveillance, registries, and direct government control.

By seeking to label, classify, and subject small-scale traders, craftsmen, and transporters to new state-defined criteria, the authorities are not aiming to simplify business operations. Instead, they are extending their reach. In a landscape where financial institutions and public assistance programs are increasingly subservient to the current leadership, this charter establishes a framework for political clientelism. In the near future, the ability to access credit, secure public contracts, or even operate legally may depend entirely on political loyalty or remaining silent about the regime’s actions.

Ignoring the crisis of power and finance

Official rhetoric suggests these measures are a response to the energy and financial crises currently strangling Mali‘s economic fabric. However, the situation on the ground tells a different story. Data indicates that approximately 40% of the nation’s formal businesses identify chronic electricity shortages and limited access to credit as their primary obstacles to growth.

New regulations and ceremonies at the National Council of Employers will not fix broken power grids or lower interest rates. By focusing public attention on a new regulatory framework rather than addressing crumbling infrastructure, the authorities are masking their inability to provide the basic services essential for a functional economy.

The link between political and economic liberty

The history of autocratic rule proves that different forms of freedom cannot be separated. It is impossible to revoke political rights without eventually seizing economic ones. By suppressing freedom of expression, the government has ensured that entrepreneurs burdened by heavy taxes or persistent blackouts can no longer voice their grievances publicly.

Today, by targeting the freedom to innovate under the pretext of “structuring” the economy, the Mali regime is attempting to close the last remaining gap of citizen autonomy: the ability to provide for oneself without being beholden to the military leadership. This push for economic centralization is a path that has historically led to widespread poverty and the failure of private enterprise.