Locals in Bamako reacted to the news that Mali’s presidential election will be delayed in a variety of ways.
Some Malians have expressed their displeasure following the ruling junta’s declaration on Monday that the presidential election that was initially slated for February 2024 will be postponed to a later date.
“”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,” says Makan Souaré, a member of Yelema Party.
Others remain hopeful that the junta will stay true to their word.
“I think they will make every effort to be able to try again to solve these technical problems that have been cited and to hold the elections on another date,” says Samba B. Bah, an activist.
The Assimi Gota-led junta has claimed that technical factors, including as the adoption of a new constitution this year and a revision of the electoral list, are to blame for the delay.
Early in 2022, the regional organization ECOWAS imposed severe sanctions on Mali as a result of earlier delays to the junta’s timeline for transferring power to elected citizens.
The junta issued a new electoral calendar that set the presidential election for February 2024 in response to pressure from ECOWAS. The junta also committed to step down in March 2024. Sanctions were consequently withdrawn in July 2022.
New dates have not yet been disclosed by the administration, which has stated that they would do so in the future.
Elections for the legislature that were initially planned for the end of 2023 have likewise been postponed until after the presidential
