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Malians have approved the draft of a new constitution with 97% of the vote in the referendum conducted recently. The draft was submitted by the military junta in power since 2020
Malians have approved the draft of a new constitution with 97% of the vote in the referendum conducted recently. The draft was submitted by the military junta in power in 2020. The electoral authority declared the provisional results. The constitution is billed as the cornerstone in the rebuilding of Mali by the junta for addressing widespread jihadism and a deep multi-faceted economic crisis. But those who are opposing the junta term it as a ploy of the ruling power to come back into the saddle of civilian rule through manipulation.
Voting was hampered in many central and northern localities, either by fear of jihadist attacks or by political disagreements. Malians who voted last Sunday said they hoped the constitution’s approval would be a step in the right direction for a country mired by Islamic extremist violence for a decade. The proposed draft constitution creates a two-chamber parliament, the National Assembly and the Senate. Presently, the country has only had a National Assembly.
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The draft also seeks to consolidate the position of the President of Mali, a move that has drawn political ire. It is to be seen how the new constitution would be rolled out. Many feel that the present colonels would be back in power through the newly adopted constitution, though they have not announced whether they would contest the election.
