The junta in Mali may extend the transition period from six months to five years, according to the resolutions of its just concluded so-called national refoundation conference.
The decision is likely to generate a lot of noise within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
While the transition authorities were under pressure from West African leaders to provide an electoral timetable by 31 December 2021, the conclusions of the national conference now give a carte blanche to caretaker leader, Assimi Goïta to extend the current transition to five years.
“The participants have decided to extend the transition in order to carry out the institutional reforms that will allow for credible, fair and transparent elections. The deadlines put forward vary from six months to five years,” the conference said Thursday in its final report.
The conclusions of the three-week conference recommended institutional and political reforms with “the drafting of a new constitution with a reduced number of institutions, the establishment of a Senate and a Court of Auditors, the development of a constitutional mechanism for the removal of the President of the Republic in case of misconduct.”
Other resolutions include “the recomposition of the national transitional council, the creation of a single body to manage elections as well as the rereading of the Algiers agreement and the acceleration of its implementation.”
Present at this so-called day of restitution, Goïta promised to implement the recommendations from the conference before adding: “the government will put in place a timetable to ensure a peaceful and secure constitutional return.”
The Malian leader also reassured ECOWAS, calling on the regional organisation to show more “support and solidarity to enable Malians achieve their development objectives.”
CD/lb/as/APA