Mali - March 2023

One of the key steps in the transition to civilian rule in Mali is the ratification of a new constitution. A referendum on a new constitution had been planned to take place on 19 March. However, the draft text was only delivered to the country’s de facto ruler, Colonel Assimi Goita, on 27 February, and a delay in the date of the referendum was not unexpected. Observers have noted that the current draft of the constitution will concentrate power in the hands of the president, and that there are indications that the current junta members are likely to seek that office when elections are held. This is a setback in the overall transitional plan, which is planned to culminate in elections scheduled for February 2024.

Sources: Jeune Afrique, Foreign Policy