<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 22 September 1960 (from France)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 22 September (1960)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> new constitution adopted in constitutional referendum in 12 January 1992
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was formally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 21 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> President Alpha Oumar KONARE (since 8 June 1992); election last held in April 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); Alpha KONARE was elected in runoff race against Montaga TALL
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Ibrahima Boubacar KEITA (since March 1994)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Council of Ministers; appointed by the prime minister
<item><hi format=bold>National Assembly:</hi> elections last held on 8 March 1992 (next to be held NA); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(total 116) Adema 76, CNID 9, US/RAD 8, Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West Africa 6, RDP 4, UDD 4, RDT 3, UFDP 3, PDP 2, UMDD 1
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Association for Democracy (Adema), Alpha Oumar KONARE; National Congress for Democratic Initiative (CNID), Mountaga TALL; Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally (US/RDA), Mamadou Madeira KEITA; Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West Africa; Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), Almamy SYLLA; Union for Democracy and Development (UDD), Moussa Balla COULIBALY; Rally for Democracy and Labor (RDT); Union of Democratic Forces for Progress (UFDP), Dembo DIALLO; Party for Democracy and Progress (PDP), Idrissa TRAORE; Malian Union for Democracy and Development (UMDD)