SHARIAsource

Country Background

Mali is a landlocked country located in Western Africa. It is bounded by Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Senegal, and Mauritania. The capital of Mali is Bamako. The official language is French, but Mali has 13 national languages in addition to its official language. The country's population in 2017 was approximately 17.9 million. Mali is a predominantly Muslim country, with about 95% of the population Muslim. Mali is a member state of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Constitution & Legal Structure

Mali is referred to as a semi-presidential republic, in which sovereignty belongs to the people and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. The current Constitution of Mali was adopted in 1992. The system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The legal system of Mali is a civil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law. Judicial review of legislative acts takes place in the Constitutional Court. 

Constitutional Status of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no official constitutional status in Mali. However, in rural areas were customary law is used, local versions of sharīʿa may be in place. 

Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law

Islamic law has limited official jurisdiction of operation in Mali. In urban areas, positive law is common. In rural areas, customary law usually dominates. Local rural versions of sharīʿa are the predominant sources for customary law. 

Dominant School of Islamic Law

Mali has no official school of Islamic law. The majority of the Muslim population in the country is Sunnī (adhering to the Mālikī school).

Sources of Law for Legal Research

Official Publications

• Legislative
  • National Assembly
  • Journal oficiel (official gazette)
• Executive
  • Prime Minister
• Judicial
  
  • For an overview of Mali's judicial system, see the summary provided by GlobaLex

Unofficial Databases

• FAOLEX: Mali (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) database of national laws and regulations on food, agriculture, and renewable natural resources.
• NATLEX: Mali (International Labour Organization) database of national laws on labor, social security, and related human rights.
• RefWorld Legal Information: Mali (UNHCR)
• WIPO Lex: Mali (World Intellectual Property Organization)
• Juricaf: Mali decisions in French

References:

For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English translation. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].