Mali’s junta carried out a partial reshuffle of the government on Saturday, a day after announcing the end of the UN peace mission in the country and eight days after a referendum in favour of the draft new Constitution.
Though strategic posts remained occupied by the same people, government was significantly reshuffled, with 16 appointments, 13 ministers and three swaps.
At a time when tensions between the two parties are at an all-time high, a representative of the Coordination des mouvements de l’Azawad, the principal coalition of former rebels in the north, is also leaving the government.
Colonel Assa Badiallo Touré, a fresh military recruit, has joined the government and is working at the Ministry of Health and Social Development.
Malians approved the draft of the new Constitution with 97% of votes in favour, a plebiscite for the ruling military, although voting was hampered in many central and northern localities either by fear of jihadist attacks or by political disagreements.
Despite initial promises, the draft is criticized as being specifically designed to keep the junta in power past the presidential elections scheduled for February 2024.
This was the first election since the military seized power by force in August 2020, and since then they have ruled virtually unchallenged in a country faced with jihadism and a security, political and economic crisis.
The Constitutional reform provides amnesty for the perpetrators of coups d’état prior to its promulgation, and is fuelling persistent speculation about a possible presidential candidacy for Colonel Assimi Goïta.
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