Mali: despite details, the controversy over the duration of the transition is not over

Transitional Prime Minister Choguel Maïga during the inauguration of the president of the Malian trasition Assimi Goïta on June 7, 2021. AFP - ANNIE RISEMBERG

Text by: David Baché

7 mins

In Mali, after the adoption of the government action plan, Monday evening during a meeting of the National Transitional Council, the controversy remains open on the intentions of the Prime Minister as to the date of the future elections.

Responding to questions put to him by members of the CNT, which currently serves as the legislative assembly, Choguel Maïga wanted to reassure.

But he's only half done it.

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With 102 votes in favor, two against and nine abstentions: the government action plan proposed by the Malian Prime Minister of the transition

was adopted Monday evening

in Bamako.

The members of the National Transitional Council largely approved it after a marathon session of debates that lasted more than ten hours.

All day Tuesday, members of the CNT, which currently serves as the legislative assembly, questioned the head of government on his program.

He provided a series of clarifications.

The Prime Minister's clarifications

On the most awaited point, the date of the future elections which should mark the return to constitutional order, Choguel Maïga was very clear: " 

the timetable for the general elections was already published in April,

" he said. declared,

this chronogram will be maintained.

 Understand: a first combined presidential-legislative round on February 27, the respective second rounds on March 13 and 20, as announced by his predecessor to the Prime Minister Moctar Ouane. An unambiguous response to all those who believe in wanting to extend the duration of the Transition. Of which act.

Then on the establishment of the single electoral management body, some are worried about the cost and time that this reform will require.

Response from Choguel Maïga: this unique body, long demanded by the Malian political parties, " 

aims to minimize electoral challenges and reduce the cost of elections

 ".

The head of government also justified the need for ongoing negotiations with the unions, especially teachers, in order to avoid " 

a new cycle of instability

 ".

Finally, to those who believe that the Assises de la refondation, announced by the Prime Minister to prepare for future institutional reforms, will only be a repetition of the many national consultations that have already taken place, Choguel Maïga responds to legitimacy and accountability: "the 

one who will come to the head of the country after the Assizes,

wants to believe the Prime Minister, will

no longer be able to act as if he had bought the Malians at the market.

"

Did he therefore reassure?

End of the controversy?

Not really.

Brahima Fomba is a political scientist and professor of public law at the faculty of Bamako.

He notes another response from the head of government.

“

He was answering the question of the budget, which seems enormous.

He said that this budget is for nine months.

But how nine months?

In fact, we are seven months away from the constitutional end of the transition, which is eighteen months.

So the budget cannot be longer than seven months unless the government implicitly wanted to extend it.

Nine months brings us to March-April. 

"

Should we listen to a response from the Prime Minister rather than another?

Do the nine months mentioned by Choguel Maïga take into account the almost two months already elapsed since his appointment to the Prime Minister's office?

Or should we understand that part of the budget for this action plan will be left to the future authorities, those who will be legitimately elected in future elections?

In any case, the proposed plan has been widely validated by the National Transitional Council.

The government's future actions will be the best way to end the debate.

Interview with Brahima Fomba, political scientist and professor of public law at the faculty of Bamako

David Baché

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