Mali: Legislative elections postponed to June 2019 /update 16

Event

The Malian government announced on Monday, October 15, that the first and second rounds of legislative elections would be postponed to June 2019. The had already been postponed once before (to November 25 and December 16, 2018).

Context

The second postponement has been justified by the need for additional time to better organize the elections, implement institutional reforms, and appease ongoing political tensions. Initially scheduled to take place on October 28 and November 18, the elections were first postponed due to an ongoing magistrate strike which had prevented the registration of candidates.

On a related note, defeated opposition candidate Soumaïla Cissé continues to reject incumbent President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta's victory in the August presidential elections, although his reelection has been confirmed by the Constitutional Court of Mali.

Advice

Individuals in Mali should carefully monitor political developments and avoid all gatherings due to the risk of unrest. The security environment in the country remains complex, particularly in the north and central regions. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.