Mali to Launch National Forum

The junta in Mali is planning to launch a nationwide debate on reform this October, in preparation for the formulation of a programme to hand over power to civilians.

An official document says a “national forum on rebuilding” will take off at local level on October 25 and then move into higher gear, at national level, between November 15-21.

The war-torn Sahel country is facing international pressure to restore civilian rule after the military seized power in August 2020, and then deposed another civilian-led government in May.

Mali’s junta leader, Colonel Assimi Goita, has pledged to hold elections in February next year, but his government has been slow to make preparations for the poll, casting doubt on the timetable.

However, interim prime minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga said last month that an election-date decision would only take place after a national debate on what changes were needed.

The poll could be delayed by “two weeks, two months, a few months,” he said in a comment that suggested that organising peaceful elections took priority over speed.

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