https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230925/malis-military-leadership-delays-february-presidential-election-1062342715.html
Mali's Military Leadership Delays February Presidential Election
Mali's Military Leadership Delays February Presidential Election
Sputnik Africa
Mali's military government, which took power in a coup in 2021, has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to returning the country to civilian rule. In June... 25.09.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-09-25T15:02+0200
2023-09-25T15:02+0200
2023-09-25T15:02+0200
sub-saharan africa
west africa
mali
politics
assimi goita
president
presidential election
elections
economic community of west african states (ecowas)
sanctions
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Mali's military announced on Monday that it would postpone a presidential election scheduled for February that is meant to return civilian authorities to power. The reasons given by the official include issues related to the adoption of a new constitution this year and a review of the electoral lists. The president of Mali is elected for a five-year term by an absolute majority vote in a two-round system.On June 18, Mali held a nationwide referendum on the West African country's new constitution, which, according to a presidential decree, aims to strengthen the powers of the president. It also gives pride of place to the armed forces and emphasizes the "sovereignty" of the nation. Other clauses grant amnesty to those behind previous coups, reform the oversight of public finances and force deputies and senators to declare their assets in an effort to curb corruption, as well as relegate French, currently the official language, to the status of a "working language."According to the electoral authority, 97% of the votes cast in the referendum were in favor of the changes. The new constitution is part of the transitional government's reforms aimed at providing a legal basis for the establishment of civilian authority in the country. The transitional military government came to power in Mali in May 2021 through a military coup. The coup started on the night of May 24, when the Malian army, led by Vice President Assimi Goita, arrested interim President Bah N'daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane. Goita announced that N'daw and Ouane had been stripped of their powers.A military council led by Goita took control of the country and announced its intention to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in 2022, but the authorities then decided to postpone the elections to a later date for security reasons. It was the country's third coup in ten years, following military takeovers in 2012 and 2020, the latter of which occurred just nine months earlier.Last year, Mali's military leaders postponed elections until 2026. In response, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed economic and financial sanctions on the transitional government. The sanctions were heavily criticized by the government and sparked waves of condemnation among the Malian people. Against this backdrop, at the ECOWAS summit in Accra, Ghana, in July, 2022, Mali's transitional government agreed to hold elections by February 2024 in exchange for the immediate lifting of sanctions.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230624/malians-approved-constitutional-changes-says-election-body-1060125376.html
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west africa, mali, politics, assimi goita, president, presidential election, elections, economic community of west african states (ecowas), sanctions
west africa, mali, politics, assimi goita, president, presidential election, elections, economic community of west african states (ecowas), sanctions
Mali's Military Leadership Delays February Presidential Election
Mali's military government, which took power in a coup in 2021, has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to returning the country to civilian rule. In June, Malian voters overwhelmingly approved constitutional changes in a referendum, marking a key step in the government's plans to restore civilian authority.
Mali's military announced on Monday that it would postpone a presidential election scheduled for February that is meant to return civilian authorities to power.
The two rounds, initially scheduled for February 4 and 18, 2024, "will be slightly postponed for technical reasons," government spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga told media, adding: "The new dates for the presidential election will be communicated later."
The reasons given by the official include issues related to the adoption of a
new constitution this year and a review of the electoral lists. The president of Mali is elected for a five-year term by an absolute majority vote in a two-round system.
On June 18, Mali held a nationwide referendum on the West African country's new constitution, which, according to a presidential decree, aims to strengthen the powers of the president. It also gives pride of place to the armed forces and emphasizes the "sovereignty" of the nation.
Other clauses grant amnesty to those behind previous coups, reform the oversight of public finances and force deputies and senators to declare their assets in an effort to curb corruption, as well as relegate French, currently the official language, to the status of a "working language."
According to the electoral authority, 97% of the votes cast in the referendum were in
favor of the changes. The new constitution is part of the transitional government's reforms aimed at providing a legal basis for the establishment of civilian authority in the country.
The transitional military government came to power in Mali in May 2021 through a military coup. The coup started on the night of May 24, when the Malian army, led by Vice President
Assimi Goita, arrested interim President Bah N'daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane. Goita announced that N'daw and Ouane had been stripped of their powers.
A military council led by Goita took control of the country and announced its intention to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in 2022, but the authorities then decided to postpone the elections to a later date for security reasons. It was the country's third coup in ten years, following military takeovers in 2012 and 2020, the latter of which occurred just nine months earlier.
Last year, Mali's military leaders postponed elections until 2026. In response, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed economic and financial
sanctions on the transitional government. The sanctions were heavily criticized by the government and sparked waves of condemnation among the Malian people.
Against this backdrop, at the ECOWAS summit in Accra, Ghana, in July, 2022, Mali's transitional government agreed to hold elections by February 2024 in exchange for the immediate lifting of sanctions.
