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Mali counts votes in referendum on new constitution
Deutsche Welle
19 Jun 2023, 12:00
Malians started tallying ballots in a constitutional referendum proposed by the ruling junta. The junta says the proposal, which greatly expands the powers of the military, paves the way for civilian rule.
Malians voted Sunday in a referendum on a new constitution that would expand the role of the president and the military. Vote counting began Sunday evening and provisional results are expected by Tuesday.
The West African nation is ruled by military officers, who seized power in a 2020 coup, followed by another coup nine months later that removed the interim civilian government at the time.
Back then the prime minister and the president were to lead a government to steer the country towards new elections.
The ruling junta has said the proposed measures are meant to kickstart a gradual transition to civilian rule, with parliamentary elections to be held in October.
"I am convinced this referendum will pave the way for a new Mali, a strong Mali, an efficient Mali, a Mali in the service of the well-being of its population," military junta leader Assimi Goita said on Sunday.
A presidential election would follow in February 2024. Mali has been battling an Islamist insurgency and violence, with civilians bearing the brunt of the instability and conflict.
Election observer group MODELE reported a voter turnout at midday of only about 21% of eligible voters. The organization also reported the closing of dozens of polling stations due to security issues. The referendum also did not the entire northern region of Kidan.
What are Malians deciding?
Malians faced the choice of accepting or rejecting the draft constitution, seen as being a test for Goita.
The proposed changes would expand the role of the president and the military at the expense of the parliament.
The military would be entrusted with the "execution of the law" and the president would have more power over the prime minister and the Cabinet.
Goita has not said whether he would run for president. He oversaw the arrest of the nation's acting civilian leader and prime minister in 2021.
Ahead of the vote, Malians received text messages to persuade them to vote in favor of the proposed measures.
While opposition parties and groups have been critical of the new constitution, the vote is expected to go in favor of the military junta.
The Freedom House's flagship annual report 2023 labeled Mali as a country that was "not free."
The political situation in Mali
Mali built up its democratic institutions for about 20 years after transitioning away from authoritarian rule in the 1990s.
However, state fragility led to a coup in 2012 and insecurity followed in the years since. Over the years fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
On Saturday, Mali ordered foreign troops out of the country.
France, which stationed troops in 2013 to fight terrorism, withdrew troops from Mali in August 2022. Germany is due to pull back troops from Mali in the summer of 2024.
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"There was an abnormality during today's combustion test. We are trying to assess what happened," JAXA said.
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Japan's space program has faced several setbacks, including failed launch attempts for its next-generation H3 launch system.
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He added that Bangladesh can move forward if its leaders avoid new divisions and work together in the national interest, prioritizing the country over individual agendas.
At the same event, another speaker, Malaysia’s former Foreign Minister and politician Tan Sri Hamid Albar, described Bangladesh as an important country in South Asia. He commended the hard-working nature of its people, noting that the country is progressing in various areas. Referring to the recent popular uprising, he remarked that Bangladesh now has a rare opportunity for reconstruction. He emphasized the need to take effective measures to reduce income and wealth inequality to ensure sustainable democracy.
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The Times of India reported that JN Roy, an official of the hospital in Maniktala, North Kolkata, West Bengal, alleging atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh, said that the decision was taken because Bangladeshis are disrespecting the Indian flag.
Another hospital official, Shuvrangshu Bhakta, told Indian news agency PTI that we have decided not to treat Bangladeshi patients for an indefinite period. Because they have shown disrespect to India.
Meanwhile, Dhaka has condemned the violent protests in front of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, West Bengal against the burning of the national flag of Bangladesh. The condemnation was made through a statement from the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry on Friday (November 29).
The statement said that the Bangladesh government notes with deep concern that a Hindu organization from Kolkata called Bangiya Hindu Jagaran Manch held a violent protest outside the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata on Thursday (November 28) afternoon. The protesters broke through the police barricade and reached the premises of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission. They set fire to the national flag of Bangladesh and burnt the effigy of the Chief Advisor of the Bangladesh government. Although the situation seems to be under control at present, there is insecurity among all the members of the Deputy High Commission.
It said that the Bangladesh government strongly condemns the heinous act of desecrating the national flag and burning the effigy of the Chief Advisor. Along with this, the statement called on the Government of India to take necessary measures to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future.
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JN Roy said that minorities are being persecuted in Bangladesh, so he has urged other hospitals to adopt the same approach.
He also said that India has made an important contribution to the independence war of Bangladesh. However, we are seeing increasing anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh. We hope that other hospitals will also take the same steps.
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