Mali in West Africa is in turmoil after the second military coup in eight years ousted the unpopular president. There is concern that coups, once a regular part of African political life, are making a comeback with Sudan and Zimbabwe seeing similar in recent years. The initial justification is usually to reinstate democracy after rigged elections keep dictators in power often for decades, but it can end up with more of the same.
Mali, the eighth largest African country, has a complicated history, was once an empire twice the size of France, enriched by the trans-Saharan trade. During its golden age, peaking around 1300, there was a flourishing of mathematics, astronomy, literature, and art. In the late 19th century, France seized control of Mali, making it a part of French Sudan and it gained independence on 22 September 1960 after the secession of Senegal.
The 2012 coup is more obvious on the Mali chart with tr Uranus in Aries (square tr Pluto) then hitting on the Mali Mars in Cancer with the several years following being fraught. Though what may be significant is the Solar Arc Uranus which was then approaching the three Libra planet conjunction in the Mali chart. In the intervening years it has moved across the Mali Mercury, Moon and will next year conjunct the Venus. So perhaps this coup can be seen as a continuation of a running unease – with again indications of ongoing disruptions for five or six years ahead. Climate change water challenges, poverty, AIDS, the pandemic and corruption are problems that won’t be easily fixed.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have expressed disquiet and become involved in talks to ensure a peaceful democratic settlement. It was established by 15 West Africa countries including Mali on 28 May 1975 in Lagos, aimed at creating an economic and trading union; and also serves as a peacekeeping force in the region able to intervene at times of political instability and unrest.
It has a Gemini Sun opposition Neptune trine Pluto with Pluto opposition Mars – not short of ambition or determination. It’ll come into its own after a major overhaul and reorganisation in 2023/24 as tr Pluto squares the Uranus; and then starts to flourish from the middle of this decade with tr Pluto into Aquarius and tr Uranus into Gemini with a peak by 2027.