On August 18, 2021 in Mali, one year has passed since Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was forced to resign through a military coup. A coup, without bloodshed, greeted by the audience who had contested IBK’s management for several months. This protest was carried out by the coalition of opposition politicians, civil society and religious gatherings within the 5juin-Rassemblement des forces patriotiques (M5-RFP) movement.
The fight against corruption, insecurity, unemployment, reform of the education system: one year later IBK’s resignation, Mali is still waiting for a real change that is coming slowly, according to Clément Dembélé, chair of the Platform for Combating Corruption and Unemployment, a civil society organization. “We are still waiting for the first signals of a real change, it will not come,” he lamented. This transition is not yet able to move the lines, it can not give a strong signal about the fight against corruption, a strong signal against insecurity, a strong signal against the bad education system, for you. Say the disappointment is deep. ”
In the aftermath of the coup, Assimi Goïta, a 37-year-old colonel, proclaimed head of state by the National Council for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) consisting of soldiers. After a national consultation that lasted for several days and which a few months later resulted in the formation of a transitional government led by Bah N’Daw, a retired soldier and a civilian prime minister, Moctar Ouane. But a few months later, in May last year, they were both driven in turn by the military, dissatisfied with the new government.
Non-renewal Clément Dembélé, who is also a member of the M5-RFP Strategic Committee, condemns the renewal of the political scene. “IBK no longer exists, but you should know that it is not a change of person, this is not a change of man, it is a change of the system and the system is unfortunately there, the system continues to feed on the blood of the Malian people and it can give a feeling of disappointment, of disappointment, of an interrupted dream “, before continuing with humor:” The young soldiers, these colonels, are also largely taken hostage by old advisers who give them what they have recommended IBK, to ATT “To Alpha Omar Konaré. It is always the same people who give advice in an old political school that no longer has a reason to exist.”
► To read also: On the front page: Mali, one year after IBK’s fall (Africa – press review)
Mali ends up in a security, governance and economic crisis that never ceases to stifle the population who hoped for a renewal after the coup that put an end to IBK’s power. This had given rise to hope among the young. But a year later it is despair. Many are disappointed and do not see the long-awaited change, explains Adam Dicko, executive director of the Youth Association for Active Citizenship and Democracy (AJCAD).
“Chaotic situation” “For us as young people, the situation is chaotic”, she criticizes. Most of these young people, of all the people who went all over the country to demand change, to demand the resignation of President IBK because his leadership was chaotic, today these people are disappointed, it is as if there was a certain inclination to say: “we were wrong”. “
Mali was shut down by several organizations, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) following the coup on 18 May 2020 and so that the country regains its place within this institution. Regionally, one of the conditions is respect for the duration of the transition, which means that presidential and legislative elections will be organized in February 2022.
On the M5, which now shares power, some prefer to put things in perspective. Mountaga Tall, a member of the M5-RFP’s strategic committee and president of the National Council of Democratic Initiative (CNID) Faso Yiriwaton, therefore insists on the need to give himself time.
M5 never said that everything would change in 24 hours, (nor) that it had a magic wand
Mountaga Tall, Member of the M5-RFP Strategic Committee
There is a beginning of change. In order to move forward, we must lay the foundations for the change of review. We fought to make the changes. Today we are in a shared administration of power with the military, us, the M5, and we are working to implement everything that the Malian people had claimed through our movement, through the leader of the M5. Never said that everything would change in 24 hours, (nor) that he had a magic wand, he adds. Change is an ongoing process. No one can say that yours has not moved in the last two months, but no one can say that everything can change in such a short time.►Listen to:Mali: “There is no improvement in security, one year after the fall of President IBK”
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