First Lady of Mali (French: Première dame du Mali) is the title held by the wife of the president of Mali, concurrent with the president's term of office.[1][2] The present first lady is Lala Diallo, wife of interim President Assimi Goïta, who has held the position since May 24, 2021.[3]
History
Mariam Travélé, the first wife of founding President Modibo Keïta, was designated as the Mali's first official first lady by President Keïta and is recognized for her role.[2] (President Keïta's third wife, Keïta Fatoumata Diallo, was also referred to as a "former first lady" in official statements by the military government at the time of her death in August 2025, though Travélé held this role during Keïta's presidency).[4][5][6]
President Modibo Keïta, who was polygamous and had three wives, designated his first wife, Mariam Travélé, as the official First Lady of Mali during his presidency.[2] She was imprisoned by Moussa Traoré as a political prisoner from the 1968 Malian coup d'état, which overthrew her husband, until 1978.[2]
Keïta married his second wife, Fatoumata "Didi" Haïdara in 1952.[2] The daughter of a marabout, Didi Haidara was born around 1933.[2] She lived in the Presidential Palace. but was not involved in politics. Haïdara died of a heart attack in Bamako on 26 July 1976.[2]
Keïta's third wife, Keïta Fatoumata Diallo, was born on 30 December 1943 and had two daughters with President Keïta. After the 1968 Malian coup d'état which overthrew her husband, Diallo worked as an archivist at the National Archives until her husband's death in 1978.[2] Diallo was also referred to as "former first lady" by Malian government officials at the time of her death om 5 August 2025.[4][5][6]
Acting President Bah Ndaw refused to grant the title of First Lady to his wife during his brief, interim presidency.[7] Ndaw cited the need to keep his wife and other immediate family members out of public affairs during his transitional government.[7] President Ndaw was overthrown by his vice president, Colonel Assimi Goïta, in the 2021 Malian coup d'état on May 24, 2021.
