Hundreds of participants in a Malian national dialogue mainly boycotted by the opposition on Friday recommended that military rulers, who took power in 2020, keep power for several more years.
Jerrymusa.com reports that Mali’s national dialogue has proposed that junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita be a candidate in the next presidential election, according to a statement read on state television.
The rapporteur, Boubacar Sow, announced that the committee recommended extending the transition period from two to five years, effectively keeping the military in power until 2027.
Mali’s Military Rule
Additionally, they suggested opening dialogue with jihadist armed groups. However, a significant portion of the opposition boycotted the dialogue, accusing the military of using it to maintain power.
Mali has been under military rule since the 2020 and 2021 coups, with the military promising to hand over power through elections, which have been indefinitely postponed due to security concerns.
In April, the military suspended political activities, silencing opponents, journalists, and human rights activists.
Despite this, Goita claimed the dialogue was “entirely inclusive” and allowed all Malians to freely express themselves.