After successive coups in August 2020 and May 2021, the military committed to giving way to elected civilians after presidential and legislative elections, initially scheduled for February 2022.
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A new postponement on the part of the colonels. In Mali, the ruling junta announced, Monday September 25, the postponement of the presidential election scheduled for February 2024. The dates initially set for February 4 and 18, 2024 for the two rounds “will experience a slight postponement for technical reasons”said government spokesperson Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, in a statement read to journalists in Bamako.
This is a new postponement by the military in relation to the commitments made under pressure from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with a view to of a transfer of power. The election is supposed to mark the return of civilians to leadership of the country, prey to jihadism and a deep multidimensional crisis.
From “technical reasons” mentioned, the authorities cite factors linked to the adoption of a new Constitution and the revision of the electoral lists. They also mention a dispute with a French company, Idemia, involved according to them in the census process. “The new dates of the presidential election will be the subject of (a) press release later”declared the government.
No legislative elections at the end of the year
The authorities are also refusing to organize legislative elections before the presidential election, initially scheduled for the end of the year. The government “decides to organize, exclusively, the presidential election to exit the transition. The other elections will certainly be the subject of another timetable (calendar) which will be established by the new authorities, under the directives of the new President of the Republic”said the press release.
After successive coups in August 2020 and May 2021, the military committed to giving way to elected civilians after presidential and legislative elections, initially scheduled for February 2022. At the end of 2021, the junta finally declared that it was unable to meet this schedule. ECOWAS then imposed heavy commercial and financial sanctions on Mali. She lifted them when the colonels agreed to leave in March 2024, announcing an electoral calendar.