Moussa Traoré was born on September 25, 1936, in Kayes, French Sudan (now Mali). He rose to prominence as a military officer and later became the president of Mali, a role he assumed after a coup d'état in 1968. Traoré's early life saw him receiving military training in France, after which he joined the Malian Army, quickly advancing through the ranks.

Traoré's significant rise to power occurred on November 19, 1968, when he led a group of young officers to overthrow President Modibo Keïta, the first president of Mali since its independence in 1960. The coup was largely driven by dissatisfaction with Keïta's socialist policies, which had led to economic hardship and political unrest. Following the coup, Traoré established himself as the head of state and suspended the constitution, initiating nearly 23 years of military rule in Mali.

During his presidency, Traoré initially implemented a single-party state under the Democratic Union of the Malian People (UDPM), which was the only legal political party. His government sought to stabilize the economy through structural adjustments and alignment with international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, these measures, coupled with widespread corruption, led to increasing economic difficulties, particularly in the 1980s, which fueled public discontent.

Traoré's rule was marked by harsh repression of political dissent. Opposition groups were suppressed, and human rights abuses were common. The Malian economy continued to deteriorate, exacerbated by droughts and poor agricultural policies, which led to widespread famine. By the late 1980s, growing frustration with Traoré's regime led to increasing protests and demands for democratic reforms.

In response to the mounting pressure, Traoré made some concessions, such as allowing the formation of opposition parties and promising elections. However, these reforms were seen as too little, too late. In March 1991, a violent crackdown on protesters, known as the March Revolution, led to significant casualties and intensified the demand for change. This unrest ultimately culminated in another military coup on March 26, 1991, led by Lieutenant Colonel Amadou Toumani Touré, which ousted Traoré from power.

After his removal, Traoré was imprisoned and later tried for several crimes, including political repression and economic crimes. In 1993, he was sentenced to death, but the sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. In 2002, following a national reconciliation process, Traoré and his wife were pardoned by President Alpha Oumar Konaré.

Moussa Traoré lived a relatively quiet life after his release, largely staying out of the public eye. He passed away on September 15, 2020, in Bamako, Mali. His legacy remains controversial, with opinions divided between those who view him as a dictator who stifled Mali's progress and others who argue that he maintained stability in a difficult period.

REFERENCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moussa_Traor%C3%A9