Following the announcement that Mali’s presidential election will be postponed, locals in Bamako have expressed a range of opinions.
On Monday, the ruling junta declared that the presidential election, originally set for February 2024, would be postponed to a later date. This decision has left some Malians disheartened.
Makan Souaré, a member of the Yelema Party, voiced his disappointment, stating, “For us, each extension will always lead to another extension. [The postponement] is deplorable because one of the principles of the Republic is the respect of our commitments.”
However, there are those who hold onto hope that the junta will honor its promises. Activist Samba B. Bah remarked, “I think they will make every effort to address the technical problems that have been cited and to reschedule the elections for another date.”
The government has not yet disclosed the new dates, stating that they will be communicated at a later stage.
The junta, led by Assimi Goïta, has attributed the delay to technical factors, including the adoption of a new constitution this year and a review of the electoral list.
Previous postponements to the junta’s timetable for transferring power to elected civilians resulted in heavy sanctions imposed on Mali by the regional bloc ECOWAS in early 2022. Responding to ECOWAS’ pressure, the junta committed to relinquishing power in March 2024 and announced an updated electoral schedule, with the presidential election initially slated for February 2024. Consequently, sanctions were lifted in July 2022.
In addition, legislative elections, originally planned for the end of 2023, have also been delayed until after the presidential election occurs.