When authoritarian regimes systematically silence dissent, shutter independent media, and shroud freedom of expression in darkness, they inevitably confront an insurmountable obstacle: the economic independence of their citizens. History has repeatedly shown that total control demands more than just mental submission—it requires domination over how people eat, work, and thrive.

Mali’s current military-led transition has just demonstrated this predictable pattern. Beneath the fanfare of a newly signed Charter for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the regime is quietly advancing a far more sinister agenda. What authorities tout as a benevolent effort to ‘organize’ the private sector is, in truth, a calculated move to rein in entrepreneurial freedom under the guise of administrative reform.

Economic control: the final pillar of dictatorship

In a nation where the informal economy sustains over 90% of the population—particularly young people and women—this sudden push for regulation is no coincidence. Authoritarian systems inherently distrust informality, as it operates beyond state registers, audits, and direct oversight. By imposing new bureaucratic hurdles on street vendors, artisans, and transporters, the government isn’t streamlining business—it’s extending its grip.

With financial institutions and public funding now beholden to the ruling power, this charter paves the way for a dangerous system of favoritism. Soon, securing loans, winning government contracts, or even operating legally may hinge on political loyalty or silent compliance with the regime’s excesses.

Credit and electricity: the real crises ignored

The official narrative claims to address Mali’s crippling financial and energy shortages. Yet the ground reality tells a different story. Formal businesses, according to credible assessments, cite credit access and chronic power outages as their top constraints—far outweighing any regulatory concerns.

No charter, no ribbon-cutting ceremony at the national employers’ council will restore electricity or slash interest rates. By diverting attention to new frameworks instead of fixing crumbling infrastructure, authorities deflect from their failure to deliver basic economic necessities.

Freedom cannot be siloed

Autocratic rule has never respected the boundaries between liberties. Stifle political dissent, and economic freedom soon follows. By crushing public criticism of taxes and blackouts, the regime has already ensured that struggling entrepreneurs dare not voice their grievances. Now, by targeting enterprise freedom under the pretext of ‘structuring’ the economy, Mali’s leaders are sealing the last escape hatch for citizens: the ability to earn a living without begging for favors from military rulers.

Centralized economic control, as seen in other contexts, has consistently led to impoverishment and the collapse of private initiative. Mali’s new charter may wear the mask of progress, but its true purpose is control.