Mali: Political parties call for presidential elections to end military transition.

Over 80 political parties and NGOs are calling for presidential elections

Originally published on https://globalvoices.org/2024/04/23/mali-political-parties-call-for-presidential-elections-to-end-military-transition/

Monument of Independence, located in Bamako (capital of Mali). Screenshot from the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ORFBQlrNY4. Fair use.

Since the https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_d%27%C3%89tat_de_2021_au_Mali, a transition government has been in charge of Mali and shows no sign of returning to the civilian-led government that political parties are calling for. What’s more, it has also recently announced measures to restrict the press.

Following the first https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_d%27%C3%89tat_de_2020_au_Mali in August 2020, Colonel https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assimi_Go%C3%AFta took charge of the country from August 24 to September 25, 2020, before returning it to civilian rule. However, following a second coup in May 2021, Goita returned as head of state to lead the so-called transition process. He assured the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of his intention https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/mali-la-cedeao-rassuree-par-assimi-goita-sur-un-futur-retour-des-civils-au-pouvoir-20210609 in early 2022 and restore civilian rule. But against all expectations, the transition period was https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20240326-mali-la-p%C3%A9riode-de-transition-se-termine-officiellement-mais-les-autorit%C3%A9s-restent-en-place under the pretext that elections would be held in February 2024.

The presidential elections scheduled for February 2024 https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2023/09/25/mali-la-junte-annonce-le-report-de-la-presidentielle-prevue-en-fevrier-2024_6190934_3212.html In the lead up to March 26, 2024, political parties and civil society organizations subsequently https://www.dw.com/fr/mali-plus-de-80-partis-politiques-r%C3%A9clament-la-tenue-dune-pr%C3%A9sidentielle/a-68749153 their eagerness to hold https://www.dw.com/fr/mali-plus-de-80-partis-politiques-r%C3%A9clament-la-tenue-dune-pr%C3%A9sidentielle/a-68749153 and restore civilian rule. According to them, the country’s military leaders have no intention of holding these elections.

However, in June 2023, the ruling junta held a https://www.france24.com/fr/afrique/20230623-le-mali-adopte-une-nouvelle-constitution-avec-une-large-majorit%C3%A9 for its new constitution, which was approved with https://www.france24.com/fr/afrique/20230623-le-mali-adopte-une-nouvelle-constitution-avec-une-large-majorit%C3%A9 This https://www.france24.com/fr/afrique/20230616-r%C3%A9f%C3%A9rendum-constitutionnel-au-mali-quels-sont-les-principaux-points-du-nouveau-texte can be summarized in a few key points: it strengthens the president’s authority; it grants amnesty to those responsible for the coup; it strengthens the army’s powers in its operations and creates a senate.

In an interview with the German media outlet, https://www.dw.com/fr/mali-plus-de-80-partis-politiques-r%C3%A9clament-la-tenue-dune-pr%C3%A9sidentielle/a-68749153 Malian sociologist, Yacouba Dogoni, https://www.dw.com/fr/mali-plus-de-80-partis-politiques-r%C3%A9clament-la-tenue-dune-pr%C3%A9sidentielle/a-68749153:

Oumar Mariko, leader of the African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence ( SADI) party, who has been in https://www.dw.com/fr/oumar-mariko-mali/a-68670965 analyzed the current situation on French television network, Tv5monde. In this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WheoWwLso9s, he explains the junta’s intention to cling to power. He also blames the junta for the hysteria linked to the insecurity within the population and maintains that there is a civil war taking its toll on this country.

Activities of political parties suspended

On April 10, 2024, the junta used a decree to https://information.tv5monde.com/afrique/mali-le-gouvernement-suspend-les-activites-des-partis-politiques-2717486 all activities of political parties and associations and address the political unrest. https://twitter.com/aliamsi, a journalist, political blogger, and member of https://twitter.com/AFRICTIVISTES a monitoring body for all African countries, published the text for this decree on X (formerly Twitter):

In short, the https://information.tv5monde.com/afrique/mali-le-gouvernement-suspend-les-activites-des-partis-politiques-2717486 states that:

In an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI), Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, Minister of Territorial Administration and government spokesperson, justified this suspension as follows:

The comments below this post on RFI’s X (formerly Twitter) account appear to suggest that some Malians support this suspension and the ruling junta. This is the case for https://x.com/MaigaAfrika who quoted that post and commented:

Another account under the name of https://x.com/MaxFof shares this stance. They also commented sharing the post:

Freedom of speech restrictions

On April 11, 2024, the junta made another decision. Only this time, it poses a barrier to the country’s freedom of speech. Following the suspension of all political activities, the https://information.tv5monde.com/afrique/mali-apres-la-suspension-des-activites-des-partis-politiques-linterdiction-aux-medias-den from reporting on political party activities. The https://www.hac.ml/ (HAC) thereby released a statement formalizing the military officials’ decision. Journalist, https://x.com/sergedanielinfo shared this statement on X:

These restrictions on freedom of speech were soon denounced. Media association, Maison de la Presse (Press House), reacted by rejecting the HAC’s decision. Facely Konate, journalist and member of the https://twitter.com/RSF_inter ‘ Board of Directors, posted on X:

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights also reacted. It requested that the Malian authorities overturn their decisions by immediately repealing the suspension of the activities of political parties. This is a restriction on civic space:

As tensions rise between the military junta and politicians, another crisis is emerging amid the security threat already hindering the everyday lives of Malian citizens. Even though the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2023/12/11/au-mali-fin-de-la-mission-de-l-onu-apres-dix-ans-de-presence_6205168_3212.html in December 2023, no region has been spared the https://africacenter.org/fr/spotlight/au-mali-la-catastrophe-saccelere-sous-le-regime-de-la-junte/ that terrorist groups pose.

Read our special coverage: https://fr.globalvoices.org/special/sahelsc/

Written by Jean Sovon Translated by Laura · View original post [fr]

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Author:	Laura
Publication:	Global Voices
Date:	Apr 23, 2024
Words:	775
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