Mali
Poverty-ridden Mali increases military and police budget

afrol News, 7 February  - The President of Mali, General Amadou Toumani Touré, has announced significant increases in the expenditure for the Malian police and military. An additional 2000 men in uniform are to "increase the security of Mali's citizen," and the military is to get 1000 new "social housing units."

During 2003, Mali is to be staffed with 1000 new national guards, 700 extra police officers, 500 gendarmes and 160 civil protection agents, the country's President recently announced in a speech.

He also mentioned other increases in budgets related to national security. The cavalry was to be strengthened by 350 new camels and both the Directorate-General of the Police and the training facility of the Gendarme are to be furnished with new and modern headquarters. Military quarters were to be improved and there were to be constructed 1000 new "social housing units" for military employees.

According to the announcement made by President Touré, it is an important state task "to increase security for its citizens, goods and roads, in particular in the cities, where there is a growing insecurity." The Head of State said that citizens at large would experience more safety through a "multiplication of patrols, police raids, identification controls and checkpoints on the highways" as a consequence of the measures.

General Touré emphasised public safety in his speech that announced the new initiative. He however also reminded the army and police of the limits to their powers, saying their work must always be executed "within the strict framework of the law and make sure to respect human rights." The announcement at large was generally well received in the Malian press.

President Touré - or ATT, as he is commonly called in Mali - was elected into office with a convincing majority last year, being one of the opposition candidates. The now 54-year-old President was able to draw on a great popularity based in his military coup in 1992. At this point, General Touré overthrew military dictator Moussa Traoré and transformed the country to a civilian democracy the same year, without running for President himself. The general therefore generally is perceived as a wholehearted democrat.

Mali spends around US$ 50 million each year on its armed forces, which accounts for around 2 percent of GDP. This percentage is somewhat over average in a regional comparison, and significantly over average for those countries in the region not experiencing civil unrest. Mali has been peaceful since the government reached an agreement with northern rebels in the mid-1990s.

Mali further is one of the poorest countries of Africa, with few natural resources and almost two thirds of the population living in absolute poverty. Foreign aid is a key source of revenue. Tens of thousands of Malians are currently dependent on international food aid, following a regional drought in the areas bordering Mauritania and Senegal.
 

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