Law enforcement inMali is the responsibility of theNational 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 theGendarmerie, aparamilitary organization; the police are responsible exclusively forurban areas, while the Gendarmerie's primary responsibility is for rural areas, though it may also reinforce the police when needed.[1][2] According toThe Wall Street Journal, each organization has approximately 5,000 personnel,[3] whileInterpol 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 bycommissioners, 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] includingJapan;[8] theUnited Nations Development Programme;[8] theUnited Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and theDepartment of Peacekeeping Operations, through the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA);[9] and aEuropean Union Training Mission.[3]
Mali has been a member ofInterpol since 1969.[4]
Being a former French colony, Mali has a civil law system based on the French model.[10]
