Mali proposes five-year election delay to West African bloc

Mali’s interim authorities have proposed to extend the transition back to democracy following a by five years, the foreign minister said in comments broadcast on Saturday.

After 18 months of Colonel Assimi Goita’ coup, the country’s transitional government initially agreed to hold presidential and legislative elections in February 2022, under the pressure of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The country has made little progress since then, blaming disorganization and a rash of violence.

However, following a recent meeting with Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo, the chair of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop said proposed delaying the election between six months and five years.

“What was retained was a duration of five years. That’s the issue that was presented,” Diop said in comments broadcast by the state-run television network. “But it’s a question of indicating that this period, it’s the maximum,” he added.*

The African organization is struggling to hold the line against military coups in a region that until recently appeared to have shed its reputation as the continent’s “coup belt.”

Goita staged a second coup in May 2021 when he pushed aside the interim president that had taken over after Keita’s removal and took the job himself. Guinea’s military also overthrew President Alpha Conde in September.

ECOWAS has imposed sanctions on Malian officials for election delays and promised more sanctions, if Mali did not produce a plan for February elections by the end of 2021.

Mali’s actions have also deepened tensions with former colonial power France, which has thousands of soldiers deployed across West Africa’s Sahel region, battling armed groups.