Sundiata was not an absolute ruler, as the title he used might suggest, although he had universal power in the empire.

The Mali Empire was probably a federation in which each tribe had a representative on the council.

The first tribes were the Traore, Kamara, Koroma, Konde, and Keita clans. The tribal council supervised the mansa - the king of kings - by issuing his decrees and choosing his successor, who was usually the mansa's brother or sister's son.