Mali: demonstration in Bamako to demand the resignation of the president

Text by: RFI Follow

At the call of a collective of civil society organizations and opposition political parties, a demonstration was held this Friday June 5 in Bamako. Among the organizers, the Front for the Safeguarding of Democracy (the opposition coalition) and the CMAS of the influential imam Mahmoud Dicko. For all, one watchword: ask for the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Bamako, Coralie Pierret

At the beginning of the afternoon, in Bamako, the Independence Square was already invaded by the crowd, the horns and the vuvuzela resounding even in the adjacent streets. Activists even spent the night there, according to the organizers, Bamakois and Malians from the interior of the country who came to demand better living conditions.

They then rolled out their prayer rugs. Imam Oumarou Diarra of CMAS, one of the associations organizing the rally, led the big Friday prayer. Then silence quickly gave way to slogans. "  Long live the Republic, long live democracy!"  Thundered some activists. 

On the platform, organizers gathered around a religious figure: that of Imam Dicko. At these sides, civil society, EMK, Espoir Mali Koura and the opposition political parties, the FSD, the Front for the safeguard of democracy. Because beyond the social demands of the street, the demonstration also has political implications.

All agreed on the same watchword: request the resignation of the President of the Republic for better governance. "  There is no security, no school, too much corruption and the last straw was the truncated results of the legislative elections  ," summed up one of the organizers in anger.

The coalition, the Rally of Patriotic Forces demands the resignation of President IBK, according to the final declaration. After the end of the rally, demonstrators marched to the Sébénikoro district, outside the residence of President IBK to demand his resignation.

Today there is no water, no electricity, young people are unemployed, corruption has reached an enormous degree. Hospitals are closed, education is flouted. It is a catastrophic result! 

A day of mobilization at the call of a coalition of civil society, religious and opposition political parties.

Coralie Pierret

Negotiations to cancel the rally

This demonstration had been announced since May 30, but negotiations, negotiations took place all week to cancel the rally. Indeed, the potential scale of this challenge worries Bamako. This Thursday, the founding families of the city had received the organizers for several hours asking them to cancel this demonstration. Without success.

On Wednesday, it was the parliamentarians who invited the Front for the safeguard of democracy and the CMAS of Imam Dicko to the National Assembly. "  They offered us a little candy,  " said the opponent and former minister Choguel Maïga. "  The vote of a motion of censure against the government if the organization of the rally was abandoned or suspended,  " he said. Again without success.

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• Mali
• Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta

On the same subject

Mali: the platform of women leaders mobilizes for the release of Soumaïla Cissé

Mali: between insecurity and the coronavirus pandemic, teachers' anger

Mali: the Tabital Pulaaku association denounces the continuation of abuses against the Fulani