National consultations in Mali: the junta in search of a difficult consensus

CNSP soldiers consulted the armed groups that signed the peace agreement on the continued application of the agreement and on the terms of the political transition in Mali on September 1, 2020. (illustrative image) David Baché / RFI

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The national consultations organized by the military junta begin in Bamako and in the regional capitals this Saturday, September 5.

Political parties, unions, civil society, armed groups signatories to the 2015 peace agreement, all are invited to, as a first step, agree on the objectives of these consultations, which will continue at the end of next week. .

In essence, the Malian forces must define the architecture of the coming transition.

The junta intends to find positions of consensus, a task that promises to be very complicated as positions diverge in the country.

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The military junta that took power in Mali quickly pleaded for a long transition, of three or two years, before returning power to civilians.

Since then, she has conducted more than two weeks of consultations.

of up to one year, led by civilians.

Otherwise it will not lift its financial and economic sanctions.

Between the two, the Malian political parties do not all agree: the M5-RFP coalition, which led the popular protest for months before the military coup, wants a transition from one and a half to two years, with a civilian president.

The M5 is open to a soldier for the post of Prime Minister.

The RPM, the former majority of ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (IBK), has not taken an official position.

Some of its members are arguing for a transition from one to one and a half years.

This is also the case for Soumeylou Boubeye Maïga, former Prime Minister of IBK, who wishes to preserve Mali's relations with ECOWAS and the rest of the international community.

It proposes a civilian president and prime minister, accompanied by a military vice-president, for twelve to fourteen months.

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Former Prime Minister Moussa Mara asks for a sixteen-month transition, and wants the former political leaders, too well known to all Malians, to step back.

He proposes that “ 

 "

Trade unions, civil society organizations, armed groups signatories to the peace agreement, they too have their own views.

The CNSP putschists have enjoyed undeniable prestige in the country

.

Some see them as providential men, while others are worried about seeing the military drag on at the head of the country.

The voice of consensus promises to be full of pitfalls.

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