06/18/2023 23:23 (act. 06/18/2023 23:23)
Referendum paves the way for democracy ©APA/AFP
In Mali, vote counting began on Sunday in a referendum on constitutional reform that the military government believes should pave the way for elections. However, some opposition parties and pro-democracy activists say the military does not have the right to write and vote on such a comprehensive draft constitution. Among other things, they criticize that the project gives too much power to the president.
Proponents of constitutional reform argue that state institutions must be strengthened. Preliminary results are expected on Tuesday. Armed groups in the north of the country called for a boycott of the referendum. Former MP Ahmoudane Ag Ikmasse, from Kidal in the north, told Portal there had been no referendum there. CMA rebel spokesman Ould Mohamed Ramadane said the vote took place only in a few places with a large presence of Malian forces, such as Timbuktu, Gao and Menaka.
Despite sharp differences with the generals, the West African Economic Community and the United Nations see the referendum as an important test of their willingness to start a process of democratization. On Friday, however, the Malian government asked the United Nations to end the Minusma peacekeeping operation in the African country and to withdraw UN troops.
Large areas in northern Mali are controlled by groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the “Islamic State”. Initially, the West helped the Malian government repel the extremists. The army is also still involved in the UN mission and the EU EUTM training mission in Mali. However, most of the soldiers were withdrawn in the previous year. The military government now has the help of the Russian mercenary group Wagner.