Mali’s military junta has announced that the presidential election slated for February would be postponed.
Col Abdoulaye Maiga, a government spokesperson, said a new date will be announced and that parliamentary elections would be held independently.
He attributed the delay to “technical reasons,” such as those related to the passage of a new constitution and a review of election regulations.
Following this announcement, civil society organizations and the opposition have expressed their dismay.
The elections were meant to restore constitutional authority to Mali following military coups in 2020 and 2021.
The junta had proposed holding elections in 2026, then 2025, and eventually February 2024 in response to pressure from the West African organization Ecowas.
