Neighbourhood chiefs in Bamako: role, appointment and neighbourhood council (2026 ordinance)
The new statute of villages, fractions and neighbourhoods (ordinance no. 2026-020 of 11 August 2026): how a neighbourhood chief is appointed in Bamako, their duties and incompatibilities, the 11 to 15 member neighbourhood council, compulsory registration after six months and the family booklet.
In Bamako, every neighbourhood has a neighbourhood chief (chef de quartier), assisted by a council. Their role has just been redefined by ordinance no. 2026-020/PT-RM of 11 August 2026, published in the Official Journal of 21 August 2026, which repeals law no. 06-023 of 28 June 2006. Here is what it provides.
Key points (checked on 18 October 2026)
- Villages, fractions and neighbourhoods are Mali's basic administrative units; a neighbourhood groups permanent homes in an urban area.
- In Bamako, the neighbourhood chief is appointed by the State's representative in the District, on the neighbourhood council's proposal.
- The neighbourhood council has 11 to 15 members depending on population.
- Anyone living in a neighbourhood for six months must register there; a family booklet is issued to the head of the family.
One neighbourhood, one arrondissement, one commune
Villages, fractions and neighbourhoods are created by order of the State's representative in the region or in the District of Bamako, at the population's request, after consulting the commune council. Each must be attached to an arrondissement and a commune (article 6). To find which arrondissement your neighbourhood is in, see our neighbourhoods and District of Bamako pages.
Registration and the family booklet
Under article 5, anyone who has had their main residence in a neighbourhood for six months must register there. A register, the cahier de recensement, kept by the mayor or the arrondissement delegate, is used to issue a family booklet (carnet de famille) in the name of the head of the family. The booklet identifies the family in the neighbourhood; forging it is prohibited.
How the chief is chosen
- The State's representative in the arrondissement consults the neighbourhood council and records the locality's customs and traditions in official minutes (article 9).
- The chief is chosen according to those customs and traditions.
- In the District of Bamako, the neighbourhood chief is appointed by decision of the State's representative in the District, on the neighbourhood council's proposal, after consulting the State's representative in the arrondissement and the head of the arrondissement delegation (article 10).
The chief must be of good character; a final conviction for a crime, or for an offence carrying loss of civil and political rights, rules a person out (article 24).
Duties
| Area | What the ordinance provides |
|---|---|
| Representation | represents residents to the administration and the administration to residents; performs a public service mission under the authority of the State's representative in the arrondissement (articles 11 and 12) |
| Public order | takes protective measures and alerts the district head and the mayor in case of disaster or unrest (article 14) |
| Hygiene and health | ensures hygiene, sanitation and protection of natural resources, and reports any sign of an epidemic (article 15) |
| Taxes | helps collect taxes and receives a rebate on the TDRL (article 16) |
| Mobilisation | censuses, vaccinations, screening, disasters (article 17) |
| Conciliation | mediates in customary matters (article 18) |
The chief receives a duty allowance set by decree, travel allowances and reduced hospital fees; the law protects them against threats, insults and abuse, and they may fly the national flag in their courtyard and wear a badge around the neck (articles 19 to 23). On the TDRL, see our page on local taxes in Bamako.
What the role is incompatible with
A neighbourhood chief cannot be (article 25): a member of a political party, a member of a State institution (except the Senate), an ambassador or consul, a State representative, a magistrate, a member of the armed and security forces, a regional council president, a mayor, or a member of a communal or regional executive. The person has 30 days to choose, or is dismissed.
The neighbourhood council
| Neighbourhood population | Number of councillors (article 36) |
|---|---|
| Under 1,500 | 11 |
| 1,500 to 3,000 | 13 |
| Over 3,000 | 15 |
Councillors are chosen according to custom, with no term limit; they must be at least 18 and live in the neighbourhood. Political party members, mayors and members of communal or regional executives are excluded (article 35). The roles are unpaid (article 40). The council supports residents' initiatives and the neighbourhood's development programmes.
The population used is that of the latest administrative census; for each neighbourhood's 2023 figures, see our neighbourhood pages and the article on Bamako's population.
Frequently asked questions
Who appoints the neighbourhood chief in Bamako?
The State's representative in the District of Bamako, on the neighbourhood council's proposal and after consulting the State's representative in the arrondissement and the head of the arrondissement delegation.
Can a neighbourhood chief belong to a political party?
No: the 2026 ordinance makes it incompatible; the person has 30 days to choose.
Do you have to register in your neighbourhood?
Yes, after six months of main residence; the mayor or arrondissement delegate issues a family booklet to the head of the family.
Official source (checked on 18 October 2026)
- Official Journal of the Republic of Mali no. 19 of 21 August 2026, ordinance no. 2026-020/PT-RM of 11 August 2026 on the statute of villages, fractions and neighbourhoods (French), articles 1 to 25, 35 to 40 and 59.