Mali religious leaders tackle extremism
The Bamako document proposes religious leaders help prevent violent extremism through training and community outreach.
Mali's Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga received the "Bamako Document for the deconstruction of extremist discourse in Mali" on October 29. The High Islamic Council-backed document aims to leverage religious leaders' influence to counter violent extremism. Diakité Kadia Togola, President of the National Union of Muslim Women's Associations of Mali, expressed concern for the youth's future, aligning with the document's goals.
The government plans to use religious figures' proximity to communities to combat religiously justified violence. This initiative follows a July 16, 2026, request from the Ministry of Religious Affairs to the High Islamic Council to create a reference document against hate speech. The national policy against extremism, launched in 2018 with an action plan ending in 2026, supports these efforts.
Previous initiatives show potential for community engagement. A UNDP report from April 2023 detailed the PARLER project, which trained 120 religious actors in sermon guidance in areas like Bla and Koutiala. Aïssata Coumaré, a medersa teacher in Koutiala, noted improved understanding of social cohesion. The program also involved 27 radio stations and prepared social media messages. Separately, 80 Imams were offered places at the Mohammed VI Institute in Rabat on August 22, 2026, for training in preventing extremism.
Why it mattersReligious leaders and community organizations in Mali are being mobilized to combat violent extremism and hate speech.