The United States representative to the United Nations is stressing the importance of Mali’s return to civilian rule through democratic elections in February.
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield spoke to reporters online from Libreville, Gabon, after visiting Mali and Niger as part of a U.N. Security Council mission.
Speaking of her meetings with Mali’s transitional government and civil society groups, she reiterated the United States continues to stand firmly with the people of Mali in their aspirations for democracy, peace, development and respect for human rights.
Thomas-Greenfield stressed that the African country needed to put in place immediately plans to move forward on the election, adding that the February date was actually set by the transitional government themselves.
She expressed hope that Goita and other transitional officials listened to the 15-member Security Council mission and will put in place a timeline to the February elections.
However, after the meetings with the U.N. Security Council mission, Malian authorities said they want to organize days of consultations in December amongst Malian groups to determine a path toward elections.
Some fear this may delay the elections.
A Military coup in August 2020, led by Col. Assimi Goita, overthrew Mali’s democratically elected president and assumed the position of president of the transitional government.
He has pledged to keep the country on track to return to civilian rule with an election in February 2022.
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