Law enforcement in Mali is the responsibility of the National Police Force ( French: Police Nationale du Mali), which is subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Security and Civil Protection. [1] [2] The National Police Force shares responsibility for internal security with the Gendarmerie, a paramilitary organization; the police are responsible exclusively for urban areas, while the Gendarmerie's primary responsibility is for rural areas, though it may also reinforce the police when needed. [1] [2] According to The Wall Street Journal, each organization has approximately 5,000 personnel, [3] while Interpol gives a figure of over 7,000 for the police. [4]
In October 2015, Moussa Ag Infahi replaced Hamidou Kansaye as Director General of the National Police, while Colonel-Major Satigui Dit Moro Sidibé became the new Director General of the Gendarmerie, succeeding Colonel-Major Mody Bérété. [5] Local police districts are headed by commissioners, who report to regional directors at national police headquarters. [2]
The police are poorly trained, equipped and led, and suffer from low morale. [1] [3] Corruption is also a problem. [6] Following the 2013 national elections, Mali's new government made improving the police a priority and accepted the assistance of various countries and external organizations, [3] [7] including Japan; [8] the United Nations Development Programme; [8] the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, through the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA); [9] and a European Union Training Mission. [3]
Mali has been a member of Interpol since 1969. [4]
Being a former French colony, Mali has a civil law system based on the French model. [10]
Law enforcement in Mali is the responsibility of the National Police Force ( French: Police Nationale du Mali), which is subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Security and Civil Protection. [1] [2] The National Police Force shares responsibility for internal security with the Gendarmerie, a paramilitary organization; the police are responsible exclusively for urban areas, while the Gendarmerie's primary responsibility is for rural areas, though it may also reinforce the police when needed. [1] [2] According to The Wall Street Journal, each organization has approximately 5,000 personnel, [3] while Interpol gives a figure of over 7,000 for the police. [4]
In October 2015, Moussa Ag Infahi replaced Hamidou Kansaye as Director General of the National Police, while Colonel-Major Satigui Dit Moro Sidibé became the new Director General of the Gendarmerie, succeeding Colonel-Major Mody Bérété. [5] Local police districts are headed by commissioners, who report to regional directors at national police headquarters. [2]
The police are poorly trained, equipped and led, and suffer from low morale. [1] [3] Corruption is also a problem. [6] Following the 2013 national elections, Mali's new government made improving the police a priority and accepted the assistance of various countries and external organizations, [3] [7] including Japan; [8] the United Nations Development Programme; [8] the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, through the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA); [9] and a European Union Training Mission. [3]
Mali has been a member of Interpol since 1969. [4]
Being a former French colony, Mali has a civil law system based on the French model. [10]