Mali: Nationwide administrator strike extended indefinitely July 3 /update 1

Event

On Tuesday, July 3, two unions representing local government administrators at the prefect and sub-prefect levels indefinitely extended an ongoing strike which began on June 25. According to union representatives, the strikes have been organized to demand better work conditions, security, and allowances. As such, the distribution of electoral cards has been halted throughout the country ahead of the July 29 presidential elections, threatening election preparedness. Related protests are possible in the coming days.

Context

The distribution of voter cards started on June 20 and was expected to run until July 27. According to the Council of Ministers, the official campaign period will run July 7-27. If necessary, the second round of elections will be held on August 12. These elections have been repeatedly postponed since 2013, largely due to security concerns from the ongoing threat from armed extremist groups. Soumaïla Cissé, the leader of the Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD) party, was confirmed as the opposition coalition's candidate on May 26 after receiving the support of the National Council of the Party for National Renaissance (PERENA), one of the other main opposition parties in the country. Current President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita confirmed on May 28 that he will run for re-election.

Advice

Individuals in Mali are advised to monitor the situation and avoid all political demonstrations as a precaution. The security environment in Mali remains complex, particularly in the north and central regions. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.