The Malian political landscape remains under intense scrutiny as the nation grapples with a complex security crisis and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution. In a rare and candid interview, Étienne Fabaka Sissoko, spokesperson for the Coalition des Forces pour la République (CFR), shared his movement’s vision for Mali’s future. His remarks come at a pivotal moment, as the country faces both internal fragmentation and external pressures.

Mali’s security crisis: a human cost beyond military metrics

How should we evaluate the current security strategy in Mali, particularly the impact of blockades on Bamako’s population? Sissoko does not mince words: “To say the blockade ‘works’ would imply that starving civilians and destabilizing the country can be considered a success.” He emphasizes the humanitarian toll—rising prices, disrupted supplies, and daily suffering—underscoring that these tactics primarily harm ordinary Malians rather than resolve the conflict.

The CFR firmly rejects such measures, arguing they erode sovereignty and violate the rights of the people. Sissoko points out a critical flaw in the current approach: its exclusive reliance on military force. “A sustainable solution must combine security with political dialogue.” He stresses that protecting civilians and securing supply routes are prerequisites for any lasting peace.

Can a new political movement shift Mali’s trajectory?

The CFR, launched in late 2025, represents a bold attempt to offer an alternative to Mali’s entrenched crisis. Sissoko describes the movement as a platform for national preservation, not a traditional political party. Its mission is to restore hope and provide a credible path forward amid the paralysis of both military rule and protracted instability.

Public reception has been cautiously optimistic. Many Malians, exhausted by years of conflict, see the CFR as a glimmer of stability. Sissoko clarifies the movement’s scope: “We are not aligned with any armed group. Our goal is to unify all patriotic forces under a republican framework.”

Dialogue with armed groups: a line drawn between words and alliances

One of the most debated questions in Mali today is whether dialogue with armed factions—especially the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM)—is possible without compromising national unity. Sissoko is unequivocal: dialogue does not mean alignment. The CFR engages in discussions with all stakeholders but insists on maintaining strict separation between political negotiation and military coordination.

Regarding the Front de libération de l’Azawad (FLA), he dismisses the idea of a formal alliance. “The CFR is a civilian movement. We do not engage in or support military operations.” He reaffirms the movement’s commitment to Mali’s territorial integrity, advocating for political—not military—solutions to governance and regional disparities.

A transition without surrender: preparing for civilian-led change

The CFR has considered scenarios where state collapse might occur. Sissoko outlines a potential civilian safeguarding transition aimed at restoring public freedoms, securing populations, initiating national dialogue, and drafting a new constitution before elections. He warns that elections cannot be held in a vacuum: “Without security and national consensus, history will repeat itself.”

He also addresses the role of religious leaders like Imam Mahmoud Dicko, stressing that while moral authority can help heal divisions, executive power must remain in the hands of elected institutions. “Legitimacy must come from the people, not from outside pressure or imposed figures.”

Dialogue with JNIM: boundaries of engagement

Sissoko is open to dialogue with the JNIM but sets clear non-negotiable red lines: Mali’s unity, a republican state, protection of fundamental freedoms, and a definitive break from transnational jihadist agendas. He rejects the notion of rewarding armed groups through concessions. “Dialogue is not surrender. It is a tool to end war and protect lives.”

Regarding Iyad Ag Ghali’s alleged willingness to abandon transnational jihad, Sissoko remains skeptical. He insists that intentions must be proven through actions: halting attacks, protecting civilians, allowing humanitarian access, and cutting ties with Al-Qaïda. “We don’t negotiate with the Malian state. We discuss conditions to end the war without abandoning the Republic.”

Decentralization: governance, not ideology

Critics often reduce the debate around Mali’s future to whether the sharia or federalism will prevail. Sissoko dismisses this as a dangerous oversimplification. The real issue, he argues, is the collapse of local governance: absent administration, justice, and services force communities to rely on local leaders—traditional, religious, or customary. The CFR does not advocate for sharia but for a stronger republic that integrates local mediation within constitutional limits.

On decentralization, he emphasizes the need to redefine the balance of powers and resources. The CFR supports a unitary, sovereign, and indivisible Mali, but one that empowers regions with greater autonomy in managing local affairs. He warns against over-centralization: “A state that concentrates everything in Bamako is inefficient and disconnected from the people.”

A roadmap for recovery: education, justice, and economic revival

The CFR has developed a structured transition program focused on restoring what Sissoko calls the “useful State”. Priorities include reopening schools, strengthening the judiciary, protecting civilians, and reviving key economic corridors. He highlights the humanitarian dimension: “Reconstructing Mali begins with restoring access to education, justice, food, and energy.”

He also addresses the recent emergence of the Alliance des Démocrates du Sahel (ADS), describing it as a civic convergence between Malian, Burkinabè, and Nigerien democrats. While sharing concerns about institutional failures across the Sahel, the ADS remains a platform for advocacy and solidarity—not a unified military or political command. Each movement, including the CFR, responds to its own national crisis.

The CFR’s vision is clear: no revenge, no partition, no theocracy, no return to the past. It champions a civilian transition, national dialogue, territorial refoundation, and a republican army. Most importantly, it insists that Mali will only be saved by a strong national pact, not by strongmen. “The future belongs to the people, not to weapons or ideologies.”