Mali opposition movement dissociates itself from transition charter document
Bamako, Mali (PANA) – The main Mali opposition movement, whose persistent demonstrations against President Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita triggered the 18 August coup, has dissociated itself from the final Transition Charter announced on Saturday on the country's political direction saying the conclusions do not reflect the views and decisions of the people.
The 5 June Movement–Rally of Patriotic Forces (M5-RFP), said the final document produced at the end of a three-day meeting that ended on Saturday particularly does not recognise its role and the martyrs in the fight of the Malian people for change.
The Charter does not also take into consideration the majority view for a transition to be chaired by a civilian and also the choice of a civilian Prime Minister.
In a communiqué issued on Saturday, the M5-RFP denounced the inclusion of points to the Charter which were never the object of debates, particularly the prerogatives of the transition vice-president, the composition and method of appointment of the transition President and the mode of selecting the members of the National Transitional Committee, a legislative body.
M5-RFP condemned the unilateral decision to include several points which were neither discussed nor agreed and denounced the intimidation, anti-democratic and unfair practice of another era against which the fight for change was launched.
"The desire to grab and confiscate power for the benefit of the National Committee for the People’s Salvation (CNSP), the junta which seized power last 18 August, cannot justify the methods used, which weaken the transition process," said the communiqué.
Under the Charter, the duration of the transition is for 18 months and gives the green light to the CNPS to designate a civilian or military officer as president to preside over the transition, assisted by a vice-president.
The final document also sets the establishment of a national transitional council, a legislative organ that is made up of 121 members from the society, the defence and security forces, with a government not exceeding 25 members.
The 18-month transition goes against the 12-month deadline given last Monday by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has imposed economic sanctions on the landlocked country and closed all its borders.
-0- PANA GT/BEH/MSA/MA 13Sept2020
