Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strike targets vehicle on Zahrani - Tyre Highway.
Israeli media: Israeli Prime Minister's Office: The security cabinet has approved Netanyahu's proposal on Gaza.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The Lebanese Council of Ministers approved the general objectives of the US paper unanimously by the ministers who remained in the session.
Hezbollah, Amal Movement ministers withdraw from the Lebanese cabinet session as it discusses the proposal of US envoy Tom Barrack.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone bombed a car in the town of Kfardan in the Baalbek district.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent: An Israeli raid targeted the outskirts of the town of al-Qatrani, Jezzine District
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent: Israeli warplanes launch a raid targeting the vicinity of the Burguz area
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of Jbaa in the Iqlim al-Tuffah region
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in southern Lebanon: An Israeli airstrike targeted the outskirts of the town of Ansar
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes on the al-Mahmoudiyah area

French language to be removed from all spheres of life, Malian MP says

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 26 Jul 2023 12:06
3 Min Read

French has been Mali's official language since 1960, but a new constitution has removed it from the list of official languages.

  • x
  • Anti-France demonstration held in Bamako on April 5, 2019. (AFP)
    Anti-France demonstration held in Bamako, Mali, on April 5, 2019 (AFP)

Aliu Tunkara, a member of the Malian parliament, told Sputnik on Tuesday that his country plans to limit the use of the French language as the working language after the new constitution got recently adopted.

The government is also drawing plans to gradually remove it from all spheres of life, the official noted. 

French has been the country's official language since 1960. The Government of Mali adopted last week a new constitution that aims to demote French to the status of the country's working language. 

The new constitution was put into effect by Mali's junta leader Col. Assimi Goita, marking, according to a Presidential statement, the beginning of the Fourth Republic in the West African country.

Significantly, the new constitution passed overwhelmingly, with 96.91% of the votes during a referendum conducted earlier last month on June 18.

On the other hand, thirteen national languages that are spoken across the country received official language status. 

Related News

New blow to ex-colonizer: Mali demotes French albeit symbolically

Mali abandons French as an official language as part of decolonization

Read more: Malian MP slams West for exaggerating grain crisis in Africa

"We adopted our own constitution a few days ago. We want to break away from the French system, we want to restore the status of our languages. Yes, French is a working language from now on, but it is only for now. We have serious plans to promote our own languages, we would like to completely remove the French language from all areas and gradually we will do it," Tunkara said.  

He added that France has recently suspended assistance to the country's development organizations over the adoption of the new constitution. As a result, the country has faced severe pressure from these cuts. But Mali has also endured pressure from other Western states over allegations of military cooperation with Russia.

Mali has for years been channeling considerable efforts to remove the remnants of French colonialism in its territory. 

On March 7, 2023, Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop told Al Mayadeen during an exclusive interview that France's decision to withdraw from Mali was taken to "punish the Malian authorities that decided to change their military strategy and replace their strategic partner."

It is time for France and all its partners to realize that Africans are perfectly capable of running their countries and choosing their partners based on their national interests, Diop told Al Mayadeen.

Africa is open to establishing partners with anyone in the whole world, and the United States is an important partner, but it must take into consideration the interests and sovereignty of African states, the top Malian diplomat said.

Read more: Mali says Russia renews 'unstinting support' after vote to end MINUSMA

  • French language
  • Mali
  • France

Most Read

Shiekh Naim Qassem giving a speech commemorating the anniversay of martyr Mohammed Saeed Izadi, August 5, 2025, in Lebanon

Sheikh Qassem threatens 'Israel', warns against foreign intervention

  • Politics
  • 5 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025
Hezbollah says disarming Resistance is a blow to Lebanon’s sovereignty

Hezbollah to overlook cabinet decision; Amal urges corrective approach

  • Politics
  • 6 Aug 2025
Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A resident walks next to a mural painting glorifying six Palestinian prisoners who tunneled out of Gilboa Prison almost two weeks ago, and were arrested by Israeli forces, in Gaza City, Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. (AP)
Politics

Palestinian prisoners electrocuted, abused in 'Israel's' Gilboa prison

In this courtroom sketch, Ghislaine Maxwell enters the courtroom escorted by U.S. Marshalls at the start of her trial, on November 29, 2021, in New York
Politics

Epstein Case a 'mirror of American power': Counterpunch

Raed Salem Aslyieh hugs his relatives after the death of his son, Ahmed Raed Aslyieh, 18, who succumbed to injuries sustained in an Israeli strike that killed eight other family members, at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Aug. 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Democrats' slow shift on Gaza; symbolic or a step forward?: NYT

China accuses Philippines of 'playing with fire' on Taiwan
Asia Pacific

China accuses Philippines of 'playing with fire' on Taiwan

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS