In Mali, August 18, is the first anniversary of the fall of Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta’s regime. After seven years in office and just two years after his re-election for a second term, the former Malian president is the victim of a military coup. One year later, the residents of Badalabougou, the center of the protest against IBK, are divided.
as reported from Bamako, Kaourou Magassa
The months leading up to the end of Ibrahim Boubacar Keita’s reign were marked by many demonstrations. More than anything else, the Badalabougou district was the epicenter of the protest. The M5 movement, the most important opposition force at the time, held its strategic committee meetings there in the office of the opposition leader. See no major improvements in their daily lives.
Deprived of classes due to Covid-19, students from surrounding faculties largely participated in mobilization. However, the transition year that has just passed has not yielded the expected results according to Soumaila Maïga. Especially about unemployment and insecurity, his main concerns.
Mentalities are changing “Honestly, he admits, I do not think there has been any major change in the socio-political situation in Mali. We always feel that the country is in “stand-by”, it is as if the country stood completely still. We see no development progress or any signs of development in this country. ”
Sitting a few meters away, Youssouf does not agree. For him, the mentality is gradually changing and the foundations for the moralization of public life are sprouting.
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“In IBK’s days, anyone could do what they wanted without worrying. With the military in power, if we look at how they work, things are more straightforward and in good hands. Well, if the country follows this path and pleases God, the number of corrupt people will decrease and the number of workers will increase. ”
For Assimi Goïta, the coup was a necessity. Will Assimi Goïta succeed in convincing them of a development in this direction? Nothing guarantees it. On the first anniversary of his coup, the interim president spoke to the nation under a short radio address that was broadcast late on Tuesday evening, August 18. He confirmed that the coup had become a necessity and promised to ensure the reorganization of the state and the organization of transparent and credible elections.
New institutions were introduced, a new government was formed and everyone started.
Assimi Goïta, president of the transition, a year after the coup
Although it is a culmination, August 18 is also a new beginning. A gigantic project is calling to us, because it is a matter of achieving what everyone is striving for: the state’s review. On 18 August, a series of measures in the direction of this review were immediately followed. New institutions were introduced, a new government was formed and everyone started working. The duration of the Malian transition was 18 months. Presidential and legislative elections announced for February 2022
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