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Mali: Freedom in the World 2020

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Mali: Freedom in the World 2020 4/8/2020 Mali | Freedom House FREEDOM IN THE WORLD 2020 Mali 41 PARTLY FREE /100 Political Rights 17 /40 Civil Liberties 24 /60 LAST YEAR'S SCORE & STATUS 44 /100 Partly Free Global freedom statuses are calculated on a weighted scale. See the methodology. https://freedomhouse.org/country/mali/freedom-world/2020 1/17 4/8/2020 Mali | Freedom House Overview Mali experienced a political transition away from authoritarian rule beginning in the early 1990s, and gradually built up its democratic institutions for about 20 years. However, the country displayed characteristics of state fragility along the way that eventually contributed to a 2012 military coup, and a rebellion in northern Mali that erupted the same year. Though constitutional rule was restored and a peace agreement signed in the north in 2015, the events have left an enduring situation of insecurity. Key Developments in 2019 In March, the Fulani village of Ogossagou in Mali’s central region of Mopti was attacked by alleged Dogon hunters who killed some 160 people, among them women, children, and elderly people. In June, the Dogon village Sobane-Kou was attacked by unidentified armed assailants, and some 95 people were killed. In April, the government led by Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga resigned under pressure from protesters angry about authorities’ inability to address insecurity and violence. Former finance minister Boubou Cissé was appointed the new prime minister. In December, the president opened the Inclusive National Dialogue (DNI), despite a boycott by the opposition. The meetings, over the course of a week, brought together stakeholders from all parts of the country in an effort to find nonmilitary responses to the security crisis that has afflicted Mali since 2012, and ended with a set of resolutions on topics including future elections and a referendum on revision of the constitution. In June, legislative elections originally due in 2018 were again postponed. Separately, a national state of emergency in force since a 2015 terrorist attack was extended for another year in October. Political Rights https://freedomhouse.org/country/mali/freedom-world/2020 2/17 4/8/2020 Mali | Freedom House A. Electoral Process A1 0-4 pts Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? 2 / 4 The president, who is chief of state, is elected by popular vote and may serve up to two five-year terms. In a two-round presidential election in 2018, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, the incumbent president known by his initials, IBK, took 67 percent of the vote; he defeated Soumaïla Cissé, a former finance minister, who took 33 percent. International election observers said polling was relatively well conducted. However, a fragile security situation led to very low turnout in parts of northern and central Mali. Approximately 20 percent of polling stations were affected by violent disruptions nationwide, according to authorities, and 3 percent were closed entirely. Additionally, internet access was blocked ahead of the runoff vote, and authorities refused to answer journalists’ questions about the disruption. Although Keïta received international recognition as the election’s winner, the political opposition, led by Soumaïla Cissé, rejected the election’s results as fraudulent and boycotted Keïta’s inauguration in September 2018. Despite the election’s relative success, the political system remains fragile due to the security situation, and as the country continues to address the aftermath of the 2012 coup. The prime minister is head of government, and is appointed by the president. In April 2019, Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga resigned along with his entire cabinet in the aftermath of the massacre of approximately 160 Fulani herders in Ogossagou by members of a rival community in March. Although no specific reason was given, the resignation came after lawmakers discussed a possible motion of no confidence in the government, which had come under sustained public criticism for failing to disarm nonstate armed groups. President Keïta appointed Boubou Cissé, a former finance minister, as the new prime minister later in April. https://freedomhouse.org/country/mali/freedom-world/2020 3/17 4/8/2020 Mali | Freedom House A2 0-4 pts Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? 1 / 4 Members of the 147-seat unicameral National Assembly serve five-year terms. Thirteen seats are reserved to represent Malians living abroad. IBK’s Rally for Mali (RPM) party won 66 seats in legislative elections held in 2013, and its allies took an additional 49 seats. Soumaïla Cissé’s Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD) won 17 seats, and the third-largest party, the Alliance for Democracy (ADEMA), won 16. The original mandate of the incumbent legislature has expired. Parliamentary elections were initially scheduled for November and December 2018. They were again moved by the Council of Ministers to April 2019, then to June 2019, before being postponed in June 2019 until 2020. Score Change: The score declined from 2 to 1 because legislative elections due in 2018 had still not been held by the end of 2019, and the original mandate of the incumbent legislature has expired. A3 0-4 pts Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? 2 / 4 Electoral operations are divided among three administrative bodies in Mali—the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI), and the General Office of Elections (DGE). The Constitutional Court also participates in the electoral process by validating election results and resolving disputes. Electoral bodies have struggled to establish secure polling places in areas where armed groups operate. Voters have been disenfranchised due to delays in the distribution of electoral identity cards, and an outdated voter registry. https://freedomhouse.org/country/mali/freedom-world/2020 4/17 4/8/2020 Mali | Freedom House In December 2019, the president opened the Inclusive National Dialogue (DNI), despite a boycott by the opposition. The meetings, over the course of a week, brought together stakeholders from all parts of the country in an effort to find nonmilitary responses to the security crisis that has afflicted Mali since 2012, and ended with a set of resolutions on topics including future elections and a referendum on revision of the constitution. B. Political Pluralism and Participation B1 0-4 pts Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or 2 / 4 groupings? The creation and the functioning of political parties are determined by a legal framework known as the Political Parties Charter, which is generally fair. The Charter prohibits the creation of political parties on an “ethnic, religious, linguistic, regionalist, sexist, or professional basis.” There are more than 100 registered political parties in Mali, though fewer than 20 are active. Parties are relatively weak, and are usually based around support for a particular personality, and policy differences between parties are not always clear. Parties are often poorly funded, which hampers their ability to effectively organize and win voter support. B2 0-4 pts Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? 2 / 4 https://freedomhouse.org/country/mali/freedom-world/2020 5/17 4/8/2020 Mali | Freedom House Electoral competition is open to opposition forces. A 2014 law institutionalized specific privileges for opposition parties in the parliament, such as the ability to choose an official leader of the opposition. However, in 2016 the ruling majority passed, over the objections of opposition parties, amendments to the electoral code that favored establishment and majority parties by requiring candidates to make a significant financial campaign deposit, and to receive support from national councilors. Even so, more than 20 candidates were able to run in the 2018 presidential election. B3 0-4 pts Are the people’s political choices free from domination by forces that are external to the political sphere, or by political forces that employ 2 / 4 extrapolitical means? Political choices remain the privilege of the Malian people, though these choices are occasionally influenced by the promise of patronage appointments or other benefits in exchange for political support. Insecurity has restricted people’s ability to vote in northern and central Mali, including during the 2018 presidential election. Approximately 20 percent of polling stations saw violent disruptions nationwide, and about 3 percent were closed due to security risks, according to authorities. A polling officer was shot and killed in Arkodia during the presidential runoff by armed men authorities described as “jihadists.” Additionally, many of the roughly 500,000 people displaced within and outside Mali were unable to exercise their voting rights in 2018. Nevertheless, it appeared that more polling stations in regions affected by ongoing insecurity remained opened during the 2018 presidential election, compared to the 2016 local polls. B4 0-4 pts Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, religious, gender, / 4 LGBT, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral 2 opportunities? https://freedomhouse.org/country/mali/freedom-world/2020 6/17 4/8/2020 Mali | Freedom House No law limits the political rights of minorities, and no single ethnic group dominates the government or security forces. Tuareg pastoralist groups in the north have historically occupied a marginal position in national political life, but members from these groups hold at least 16 National Assembly seats. Societal attitudes can discourage women from participating in political processes. Only about 14 percent of candidates in the 2013 legislative elections were women, and women occupy less than 10 percent of National Assembly seats.
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