Mali has abandoned French, which has been the nation’s official language since 1960, as per its new constitution.
French is no longer the official language, according to reports, as a result of the new constitution, which was decisively approved by 96.91% of voters in a referendum on June 18. Despite being the working language, 13 other national languages that are spoken throughout the nation will be recognised as official languages.
Around 70 different regional languages are spoken in Mali, and a 1982 decree recognized several of them as national languages, including Bambara, Bobo, Dogon, and Minianka.
Remember that the Fourth Republic in Mali began when the country’s new constitution was placed into effect by the junta’s head, Col. Assimi Goita.
The Presidency claims that Mali’s military has insisted that the constitution will be essential to the nation’s reconstruction ever since seizing control in a coup in August 2020.
Mali has recently had two more coups, one in August 2020 and the other in May 2021.
Elections were previously scheduled to take place in February 2022, but the junta eventually decided to postpone them until February 2024.
Mali’s decision to abandon French comes as anti-French sentiments in West Africa are rising as a result of perceived French political and military meddling.
