Mali/Creation of the single election management body: The decision of the reflection workshop organized by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization!

After two days of work, participants in the workshop on the establishment of a single election management body for the upcoming elections, organized by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, recommended the maintenance of the existing bodies (the MAT, the DGE and the INEC) with the strengthening of the INEC, for the organization of future elections. This decision is contested by the M5-RFP, the movement from which the Prime Minister comes.

Concerning the creation of the single election management body, there is the decision of the Prime Minister and that of the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization. The head of government opted for the establishment of this body while participants in the workshop organized by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization called for the maintenance of the three existing bodies, namely the namely the General Delegation for Elections (DGE), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization with the strengthening of the INEC.

representatives of the Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of Political and Institutional Reforms, the Delegate General for Elections, representatives of political parties, groupings of political parties and civil society are, among others, those who took part in the workshop.

During the two days of work, there were three communications. The theme of the first presentation was "the state of play in relation to the single election management body". This paper was presented by Mr. Mamani NASSIRE, Technical Adviser at the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization.

The ^second paper was presented by Mr. Fodié TOURE on behalf of the national experts and dealt with the orientation note on the organization of elections during the transition in Mali.

The ^3rd communication was presented by General Siaka SANGARE, General Delegate for Elections. Its theme was: Communication on the feasibility, constraints and challenges of the organization of future elections by the single election management body to be set up.

The decision of the workshop participants

After intense discussions, according to the rapporteurs, the participants decided to maintain the three existing bodies, namely the Délégation générale des Élections (DGE), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization with the strengthening of INEC."At the end of the two (2) days of work, the participants are unanimous for the creation of a single and independent Body in charge of the management of elections," read the report which adds:"However, for various reasons mentioned, including the remaining timeframe of the Transition, a large majority of participants believe that its effectiveness will not be possible."

According to the report, the participants, almost unanimously, propose the organization of the elections at the end of the Transition by the existing structures (MATD-DGE-CENI) by strengthening the missions of the INEC."They recommend that the adoption of the draft electoral law resulting from the workshop of 3 to 7 May 2021 be expedited.They recommend that the adoption of the draft electoral law resulting from the workshop of May 3-7, 2021, which provides in its various provisions for the creation of the single and independent body in charge of the organization and management of elections, be expedited".Thepromulgation of this electoral law will formally establish the single and independent body in charge of the organization and management of elections, which will be imposed on the new power coming out of the ballot box.»

It should be noted that the decision is contested by the M5-RFP. For many analysts, the position of the political class is paradoxical because the creation of this body is one of its key recommendations since the fall of the IBK regime. Are the participants putting the stick in the wheels of Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga? We can not say, but this decision is a blow to him because he has reassured Malians of the creation of this body.

Source: bamada.net