In Mali, the transitional minister Choguel Maiga presented his government’s action plan on Friday afternoon, 30 July. He spoke to members of the National Transitional Council, which currently serves as the Legislative Assembly, during an extraordinary session. Rereading the peace agreement, strengthening the armed forces, transparent elections: what to remember from this action plan
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The Prime Minister spoke to members of the CNT, which currently serves as the Legislative Assembly, during an extraordinary session.Choguel Maïga began its intervention with “a minute of prayer” in memory of all victims, malians and foreigners, from the crisis. He then praised the “forces of change”: the M5, the heterogeneous movement made up of political parties, trade unions and civil society organizations, for which it had become the spearhead, and the “security forces”.
Clearly the military that finally overthrew President IBK in August last year, marginalized the M5 for a while and with which Choguel Maïga crossed swords until he was appointed Prime Minister in early June. One way for the Prime Minister to “correct the transition” – the second coup was presented at the end of which Choguel Maïga was appointed – to seal reconciliation with those he so strongly dismissed for months.
Strengthening the Army Once he got to the heart of the matter, Choguel Maïga outlined a square program.
First axis: strengthen security. To improve the fight against terrorism and banditry, the Prime Minister undertakes to make “all materials and human resources” available to the defense and security forces: strengthening the workforce, modernizing equipment and improving education.
The strategy fordisarmament and reintegration, provided for in the 2015 peace agreement, will be accelerated. Targeted measures will be implemented in the central and northern regions of the country to restore social and basic services.
Reconstruction of the peace agreement On a more controversial topic, Choguel Maïga resumed his project on “intelligent and consensual reconsideration ofpeace agreement“, And this to promote a” collective grant “. Some provisions will be re-read under the terms of the agreement: an” inevitable “method, according to Choguel Maïga, which did not specify what provisions he was thinking of. in CMA expresses strong reservations.
Assises nationale de la refondation Second axis: political and institutional reforms Choguel Maïga advocates a “renovation of the political framework” to make the institutions “stronger and more legitimate”. To this end, and as he has already mentioned, Choguel Maïga announces the “National Refoundation Assizes”, a framework for dialogue that will be based on the conclusions of the inclusive national dialogue and the other – very many – “forums” that have taken place during the recent years.
Choice of time Third axis: the organization of general elections, President and Legislation, which must mark the end of the transition and the return to constitutional order. Unsurprisingly, the Prime Minister promises them “transparent, credible and inclusive”. To do this, he once again defended a significant reform, the establishment of a single electoral body.
“A persistent demand expressed for decades by the political class and civil society,” the head of government recalled, in order to restore confidence in everyone during the election campaign. Since this issue, many political parties have expressed their fear that this ambitious reform, and all others, will lead to an extension of the transition period. Choguel Maïga, who had already stated that he intended to respect the commitments made against the Malians and the international community – a presidential election in February and a legislative election in March – did not go into the details of the action plan, but assured that he “took into account transition time delays “.
Social pactFourth axis: the promotion of good governance and the adoption of a social stability pact. Choguel Maïga promises a “governance of rupture and exemplarity”, based on the fight against corruption and impunity, “at the core of our state’s decay”. The head of government announces audits of public buildings, a commission of inquiry into the demolition carried out at Bamako airport and investigations into the abuses of 10, 11 and 12 June in Bamako, Sikasso and Kayes – when civilians demonstrating against former President IBK’s regime had been killed.
At the social level, Choguel Maïga promises to release “at least 100 billion” for priority social sectors for the benefit of the most vulnerable. Refugees and refugees returning to their place of origin are declared a government priority.
Choguel Maïga also promises a new conference, this time social, which will be organized “in consultation with the social partners”. Objective: to find the compromises that make it possible to reconcile the improvement of workers’ lives and the state budget, and this, while the end of the IBK period and the beginning of the transition were marked by repeated strikes. “Our parents’ teachers have nothing to fear,” Choguel Maïga promised, and he faced concerns about the harmonization of public service pay.
2050 billion FCFAThe fight coronavirus, improved access to health and drinking water, promotion of culture, consideration for gender and young people were also mentioned at the end of the speech as remaining priorities.
For the Bamako partners, Choguel Maïga finally assured that Mali will continue to respect all its international commitments. “Our country is at a crucial turning point in its history, it is playing for its survival with the help of fraternal countries and multilateral organizations,” insisted on formulating the Prime Minister.
The cost of this program was estimated by the Transitional Minister at more than 2050 billion FCFA.
First reactions The reactions to these clarifications on the action plan were rapid. Messages that go in the right direction, provided that the former Prime Minister and President of the Yelema Moussa Mara Party believes that the documents can handle the task and that the schedule is respected.
The issue of security is obvious. This is the Malians’ biggest concern. The organization of the elections as the overarching barometer of the transition, that’s what the Prime Minister said, and I fully share that view, because it is the outcome of the transition. And the transition must end happily, after credible and transparent elections, and social issues of good governance are also among the important issues, so it is a program that answers today’s concerns. the essential question is: what will we be able to do in the remaining time? and transparent elections within the transitional timeframe, no later than February 2022.
I note that the Prime Minister has several times in his speech reminded to work within the deadlines for the transition. This is positive. In any case, that is my wish, and it is for many of our countrymen. Also announced by the Prime Minister on a re-reading “intelligent and consistent” of the peace agreement from 2015. An opportunity that suddenly arouses great reluctance among CMA ex-rebels, signatories of this agreement and who have no desire to revise it. Mohamed elMaouloud Ramadanee, spokesman for the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), believes this would “open a Pandora’s box”.
Our concern is that some of the signatories had reservations before signing this agreement. And if we bring it to the table today, we must expect each of these parties to come back with their amendments and reservations. So for us it is risky, it is a Pandora’s box that must be avoided at all costs.
given the six years that have been spent just on implementation, and which we are drawing out today. Let’s say that tomorrow the deal will be put back on the table again. See, how long does it take to reach a compromise? So for us it will be a waste of time, it will also be dangerous, and above all does not allow the situation that Mali is in today. f
or us, it is essential that the government respects its commitments, especially with regard to the implementation of the agreement. You know they are reluctant to join this new transitional authority. but we have received commitments, we ask the government to respect these commitments.
30-07 Mali Son Ramadane PP CMA Reaac Plan Chogel MORGON
In Mali, the transitional minister Choguel Maiga presented his government’s action plan yesterday afternoon (Friday). Strengthen security by providing more resources to the military, organizing presidential and legislative elections with a single body and respecting the deadlines set, or even establishing a social pact with the unions.
These are some of the main ambitions presented by the Prime Minister before the National Transitional Council, which currently serves as the Legislative Assembly.
Also announced: an “intelligent and coherent” re-reading of the 2015 peace agreement, a prospect that, for once, arouses great resentment among the CMA’s ex-rebels, signatories to this agreement and who do not want to revise it. I suggest that you listen to the door talks on the coordination of the Azawad movements, Mohamed el Maouloud Ramadane, together with David Baché.
