Mali's Political Troubles

Modibo Keita was overthrown on November 1968 during a military coup and was replaced by Moussa Traure. Moussa Traure and his military regime tried to reform the economy to limited success. He allowed some political changes but did not allow the country to become a full democracy. Increasingly dissatisfied with his dictatorial leadership, the population of Mali was in a state of unrest and the response from the Traure regime was not kind. Many protests were suppressed and protesters tortured or jailed. The tensions continued to rise ultimately climaxing in the massacre of thousands of peaceful student protesters by Traure's military on March 26, 1991. Traure's own soldiers eventually started refusing to fire at the innocent protesters and joined forces with civilians against the government regime. That evening Moussa Traure was arrested and a democracy was formed. 

A new constitution and a multi-party system were introduced and Alpha Oumar Konare won the country's first democratic election, leading the nation for two terms from 1992 to 1997. Afterwards Amadou Toure was elected as president leading the country peacefully and stably. 

Moussa Traure