Highlights: Mali: Transitional authorities dissolve Observatory for Elections and Good Governance. Announcement made on Wednesday evening in a press release at the end of the Council of Ministers. This decision, taken at the highest level, is a hard blow for Malian civil society and, more generally, for civic space in the country. Two reasons are given by the transitional authorities: the first is that the Observatory did not communicate its sources of funding to the administration, as required by law. "The president of this association indulges in statements likely to disturb public order," the statement said.

In Mali, the transitional authorities dissolve the Observatory for Elections and Good Governance. An association which, as its name suggests, observes the conditions for the holding of elections...

Mali: Transitional authorities dissolve Observatory for Elections and Good Governance

In Mali, the transitional authorities dissolve the Observatory for Elections and Good Governance. An association that, as its name suggests, observes the conditions for the holding of polls and the transparency of electoral processes in the country. The announcement was made on Wednesday evening in a press release at the end of the Council of Ministers. This decision, taken at the highest level, is a hard blow for Malian civil society and, more generally, for civic space in the country.

Colonel Assimi Goita (c), leader of Mali's transitional authorities, in Bamako, September 22, 2022. AP

By: David Baché

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Two reasons are given by the transitional authorities: the first is that the Observatory did not communicate its sources of funding to the administration, as required by law. A breach that could have been resolved quickly and without waves, unlike the second reason given. "The president of this association indulges in statements likely to disturb public order, including his predictions on the (turnout in the) June 2023 referendum," the statement said.

Ibrahima Sangho chairs the Observatory for Elections and Good Governance in Mali, as well as Modele, the Election Observation Mission in Mali, which brings together some thirty civil society organizations. In this regard, during the holding of the highly contested constitutional referendum, Ibrahima Sangho made public the observation made by the dozens of observers deployed in the country on the fact that the vote had been prevented by the CSP rebels in the Kidal region. This was in contradiction with the Aige (Independent Electoral Management Authority), the official body in charge of holding the election, which had ensured, thus guaranteeing its validity, that Malians had been able to vote throughout the country. The Aige had communicated its figures for the whole country... except for the Kidal region.

Read alsoReferendum in Mali: no results published for the Kidal region

Have the transitional authorities dissolved the Observatory because they failed to tackle the thirty or so organizations that make up the Observer Mission? Why this delayed sanction, six months after the fact? Earlier this month, Ibrahima Sangho told the press that it was possible to hold the presidential election that was supposed to end the transition period quickly and asked the authorities to set a new date. Colonel Assimi Goïta has pledged by presidential decree to end the transition next March, but the election scheduled for February has been cancelled, and Malians still do not know when they will be able to vote.

Read alsoMalian election observers call for a date for the presidential election

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Mali: Transitional authorities dissolve Observatory for Elections and Good Governance

Mali: Transitional authorities dissolve Observatory for Elections and Good Governance

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