By Politico staff writer
The leaders of Mali’s military regime have confirmed that the country will return to civilian rule in 2024.
A spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga announced on state television this week that the transition period for return to constitutional rule is set at 24 months as of 26th March 2022.
The announcement was from a decree endorsed by Junta leader Colonel Asssimi Goita.
“The duration of the transition in Mali is set at 24 months, as of March 26, 2022, in accordance with article 22 of law n ° 2022-001 of February 25 2022 revising the transition charter”, Maiga stated.
It was also revealed that discussions between the military government and the regional bloc ECOWAS were at an advanced stage.
The latest action by Bamako could have been encouraged by the decision by ECOWAS leaders last week to lift economic and financial sanctions imposed on the country earlier in the year.
Meeting in Ghana to review sanctions imposed on the three states of Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, a decision was also reached that Ambassadors of member states in Mali who were recalled because of the sanctions could now return.
The bloc in January imposed sanctions on Mali to punish the junta for what the regional leaders considered as an unreasonable timetable of 5 years, for a return to democratic rule, following the August 2020 coup. Presidential elections will be held in Mali in February 2024, to be preceded by legislative elections in late 2023.
At the meeting in Ghana, approval was also given to the transition timetable set by the junta in Burkina Faso, that include the holding of a constitutional referendum in December 2024, and Legislative and Presidential elections in February 2025.
The army overthrew the civilian government of President Roch Marc Christian Kabore in January this year. Kabore’s total freedom was one of the actions announced by the military that had until recently, restricted his movement after his overthrow.
The state of affairs in Guinea looks a bit difficult though, with the military regime refusing to recognise an ECOWAS designated mediator, and of having put forward a 36 month transition period proposal.
Guinea was instead given one month to present what the bloc called an “acceptable’’ timetable for a return to democratic governance.
Army Colonel Mamady Doumbouya toppled President Alpha Conde’s government in September 2021.
The suspension of the three countries from ECOWAS, according to authorities, will remain in force until civilian rule is restored.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (08/07/22)
