Mali: MPs say National Assembly, dissolved by former President IBK, should be reinstated

Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Members of the 6th legislature of the National Assembly of Mali have described as "null and void" the dissolution of the parliamentary institution by former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

In a memorandum released on Wednesday, the parliamentarians said they are seeking the involvement of ECOWAS for the "re-establishment" of the National Assembly.

The MPs, who come from several parliamentary groups, plan to take their case to the national, sub-regional and international courts to win their case, denouncing the "coup d'état" and the dissolution of the National Assembly by the outgoing President.

They criticized the "violation" of the constitution in the dissolution of the National Assembly, claiming that the former president did not do so of his own free will.

"It has been noted that there has been pressure and threats on the person of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to force him to announce the dissolution of the National Assembly," stresses the memorandum which was signed by MPs Marcelin Guenguéré, Sory Ibrahima Dao, Moussa Kalidi, Mamadou Simpara, Aichatou Cissé, and Tidiani Guindo.

The MPs believe that Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita also no longer had the power to dissolve the National Assembly because he first announced his resignation as president in his speech and decided to refute "any attempt" to dissolve the National Assembly in "the absence of rules of substance and form", in accordance with the constitutional provisions.

They demanded the restoration of the parliamentary institution, saying the military transition must be led by the President of the National Assembly in accordance with Article 36 of the 1992 Constitution.

On August 18, President Keita was arrested by a military junta and was forced to resign from the National Assembly and the government.

-0- PANA GT/TBM/MTA/VAO 3Sept2020