Discreet since June, Imam Dicko is courted by opposition parties. But for now, the Malian religious leader prefers to remain in the shadows.
The religious leader had played a very important role during the disputes against Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (IBK). Imam Dicko speaks very little, but when he does, it's usually to fire red balls at one or the other. In June 2021, regarding France and accusations of interference from Paris, he had asserted : "It is not to France that we are asking to discuss with anyone". Before adding: “We let the conflict become that of the West. While it is the Malians who suffer the consequences”. A year later, he denounced the “arrogance” of the leaders of the transition.
Since June, we have heard little from the religious leader. Not that he's not trying to work behind the scenes. We remember that in 2020, he had indeed been one of the spearheads of the transition, participating in the appointment of Moctar Ouane as Prime Minister. But lately, Mahmoud Dicko has been sidelined from major decisions.
Yet the religious leader still enjoys undeniable popular support. It must be said that Dicko criticizes both the regime and the international community, whose "pride" he deplores. But his acerbic criticisms of the power of transition placed him, in fact, in the opposition. And attracted the wrath, last summer, of several members of the coordination of movements and associations linked to the imam. The Malians mainly support the junta in place and therefore carefully avoid following the religious leader.
Too inconsistent a political line?
But the outings against Goïta and his friends caught the eye of several organizations, which would see themselves allied with Imam Dicko in the future. Emissaries from the Framework for Exchange of Political Parties and Groups for a Successful Transition have gone in recent weeks to meet the religious.
Everyone knows that Dicko never sticks to his guns. The coalition notably includes IBK's Rassemblement pour le Mali (RPM). However, the imam, before letting go of the deposed Malian president, supported the latter. A return to the list of RPM supporters cannot therefore be ruled out.
The last meeting between Imam Dicko and the Party Exchange Framework dates back to August. The religious wants, for the moment, to position himself as a wise observer of political life. As he always has, he refuses to play a public role and wishes to present himself as an adviser. Still, if the social situation does not improve, the imam could take control, once again, of an opposition coalition.
Despite the diminishing influence of the imam, the latter remains the barometer of protest: if he leaves his role as spiritual leader, he will become a nuisance for the military in power. Especially since the former spearhead of the M5-RFP has weight abroad: in July 2020, several West African presidents had met the imam and tried to convince him to play a role.
In an attempt to bring Imam Dicko back to center stage, the opposition coalition is trying to place Laya Amadou Guindo, a close friend of the religious leader, as a mediator.