Archbishop of Bamako
Bishop Robert Cissé was born on 7 July 1968 in Bamako. He studied philosophy at the Saint Augustin Major Seminary in Bamako and theology at the Saint Pierre Claver Major Seminary of Koumi, in Burkina Faso. He was ordained a priest on 10 July 1993 in Koutiala, and was incardinated in the diocese of Sikasso. After ordination, he first held the following offices: parish vicar in Kimparana (1993-1995); parish vicar of Fanterela (1995-1997); chair of the Diocesan Commission for Vocations (1993-1998); parish priest in solidum and moderator of the parish of Sikasso (1997-2000) and, at the same time, chaplain of the laity (1997-1999); and educator at the Moyen Seminaire Pie XII in Koulikoro, Bamaka (2000-2002). He was then awarded a licentiate in philosophy from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome (2002-2004). He went on to serve as parish priest of Notre Dame d’Afrique in Koutiala, member of the Episcopal Council and chair of the Diocesan Commission for Education (2004-2009); national director of the Pontifical Mission Society in Mali (2005-2011); vicar general and member of the Council for Economic Affairs (2006-2009); secretary general of the Union of Priests of Mali (2009-2012); and director of the philosophate of the Saint Augustin Major Seminary of Bamako (2010-2012). He attended the Pontifical Urban University of Rome from 2012 to 2017, obtaining a doctorate in philosophy, after which he served as dean of the faculty of philosophy of the Catholic University of West Africa (UCAO), Bamako, and, since 2021, interim rector of the Saint Augustin Major Seminary of Bamako.