Mali: Presidential and legislative elections set for 27 February

Presidential and legislative elections are less than a year away in Mali. The transitional regime is keen to keep its promise to run the affairs of state in Mali for only 18 months.

The Malians have now decided on the date for the organisation of presidential and legislative elections in their country. They will take place on 27 February 2022, and if necessary, second rounds will be organised on 13 and 20 March respectively for the Presidential and Legislative elections. The announcement was made on Thursday by the Minister of Territorial Administration, Lieutenant-Colonel Abdoulaye Maiga, who said that this double ballot is « within the strict framework of respecting the duration of the transition, that is to say 18 months. Abdoulaye Maïga also indicated that regional and local elections will be held on 26 December 2021.

But before all these elections, a referendum will be held on 31 October 2021 to finally allow the revision of the Constitution. The Minister of Territorial Administration justifies the choice of this date: « This date takes into account the time needed (from April) to carry out consultations, draw up the draft constitution, adopt it by the National Transitional Council (CNT, which acts as parliament), and finally adopt it by referendum.

The result of long debates and negotiations, the electoral timetable thus communicated effectively translates the will of the Malian regime – strongly dominated by the military – put in place after the putsch of August 18, 2020, which brutally put an end to the mandate of Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, to keep its promise. This is all the more so since last February, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, during his general policy speech, reassured everyone of this commitment. « All means will be implemented to organise, within the agreed timeframe, free and transparent elections, » he said.