Mali: Political parties decry junta’s failure to hold elections

With Mali’s military leaders dragging their feet in restoring the country to civilian and constitutional rule, political parties in the country are worried.

They have decried the current state of affairs and now requesting a time frame for presidential elections to take place.

The ruling junta has already failed to organise polls within a promised 24-month transition back to democracy after a second coup in 2021.

A 24 months road map meant Mali should have been had a civilian government from March 26, 2024 with elections taking place in February this year.

Last September the junta postpone the February elections citing technical reasons. In a statement last year the junta said the delay was due to several factors including a dispute with a French firm over a civil registry database.

Mali has been under military rule since August 2020. ECOWAS lifted some sanctions on Mali after the new electoral law was published.

But attempts by regional bloc ECOWAS to negotiate a transition has been frustrating. On Sunday political parties and civil societies in a joint statement called on authorities to set up an institutional framework for polls as soon as possible.

“We will use all legal and legitimate avenues for the return of normal constitutional order in our country,” they said in the statement.

The statement had over 20 signatories, including a major opposition coalition and the toppled ex-president’s party.