In Mali, democracy has been indefinitely postponed
Mali's transition to democracy appears to be stuck in limbo, with the military junta showing no signs of relinquishing power. Nearly four years after the military coup, the country remains under military rule, with the junta's leader, Colonel Assimi Goïta, consolidating his grip on power.
The latest development in this saga is the conclusion of the "national dialogue," a consultation process that was boycotted by most of Mali's political parties. The outcome of this process is a clear indication of the junta's intentions to stay in power indefinitely. The recommendations include the extension of the "transition" period from two to five years, Goïta's candidacy in a forthcoming presidential election, and the promotion of Goïta and the four other colonels behind the August 2020 and May 2021 coups to the rank of general.
The reaction from Mali's political parties has been swift and scathing. In a joint press statement, some 20 parties denounced the junta's move, calling it a "trap" and a "masquerade." They accused the junta of wanting to stay in power forever, taking Mali and its people hostage. This sentiment is echoed by Ornella Moderan, a research associate fellow at the Clingendael Institute, who views the "national dialogue" as a mere democratic veneer laid over the political ambitions of the putschists.
The implications of this development are far-reaching and ominous. Mali's democracy, already fragile, is being systematically dismantled by the military junta. The country's people, who have suffered through years of conflict and instability, are being denied their fundamental right to elect their leaders and shape their own destiny. The international community must take note of this disturbing trend and exert pressure on the junta to restore democratic rule in Mali. The alternative is a bleak future, where military rule becomes the norm, and democracy is indefinitely postponed.
