Mali: Imams oppose secularism in the new constitution

The Malian League of Imams and Scholars for Islamic Solidarity in Mali (Limama) rejected on Tuesday 7 March the notion of secularism contained in the draft of the new constitution submitted to the transitional president on 27 February. They call on all patriotic Muslims to vote against the draft constitution in its current form in the referendum scheduled for 19 March 2023.

The Imams of Mali demanded through this press conference held in Bamako on Tuesday that the term secularism be replaced by the expression “multi-faith state”. “The Malian League of Imams and Scholars for Islamic Solidarity (LIMAMA), acting for Allah (SwT), Seydina Mohammad (SWS), Islam and our homeland, Mali, solemnly urges all patriotic Muslims to vote against the draft constitution in its current form in the referendum,” said Amadou Ba, Administrative Secretary of the LIMAMA office.

“The word secularism in all its forms must be removed from the fundamental text and replaced by the multi-faith state. We trust the transitional authorities, we trust their patriotic spirit, their intelligence, to perceive the wishes of 95% of Malians by accepting the request we have made,” he said.

The secretary general of Limama, Gaoussou Sidiki Mainta, believes that “secularism is a trick that governments use as they please to lock up religion or religions”. He further added that ‘this practice was used both by the colonial power and by all the regimes of the independence era that governed our country’.

This draft new constitution is part of the reforms put forward by the military to justify its continued rule. It is an essential step and its adoption would be a decisive step in the timetable of the transition, which aims to achieve a return to civilian power through elections in February 2024. Colonel Assimi Goïta, President of the Transition in Mali, declared at the ceremony to receive the document that “secularism is not opposed to religion and beliefs. Its objective is to promote and consolidate living together based on tolerance, dialogue and mutual understanding”.

The text should be submitted to a referendum on 19 March 2023, according to the draft electoral calendar drawn up by the government in June 2022. But to date, there is no assurance that this event will actually take place.