Party supports presidential movement versus opposition proposals for crisis recovery in Mali
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The Convergence of the Republican Forces (CFR), a pro-presidential majority movement, has expressed "surprise and great disappointment" at the proposals of the 5 June Movement-Rally of the Patriotic Forces (M5-RFP), which is challenging the regime of President Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita, whom it accuses of "poor governance" and "mismanagement" of multiple crises in Mali.
On Wednesday, the M5-RFP issued a document containing a series of proposals to the Malian president for crisis recovery.
The proposals include dissolution of the National Assembly, renewal of the members of the Constitutional Court, establishment of a transitional government with a fully-empowered Prime Minister named by the M5-RFP.
In a statement sent to PANA on Thursday, the CFR strongly denounced this "anti-democratic, anti-republican and unconstitutional proposal which is nothing more than a disguised coup attempt and a call for violence, at a time when negotiations are in prospect, thanks to the efforts of the international community and the numerous national mediation efforts".
The CFR stressed "the illegitimate and illogical nature of the M5 RFP proposal, which is not based on election representation or the laws of the Republic" and which, in its view, indicates "a lack of good faith, which would nevertheless facilitate dialogue to relieve the country".
The CFR also denounced "the amalgamation that the M5-RFP cynically attempts to create by associating the release of MP Soumaïla Cissé with attempts at destabilization, while the authorities are strongly and sincerely mobilized to find his family as soon as possible".
The CFR reiterated its "unwavering support for the institutions of the Republic of Mali, targets of a campaign to denigrate the M5-RFP and reiterates its continued commitment to the Constitution of Mali and to dialogue".
The CFR called on "all activists and sympathizers to stand together to block the way for the gravediggers of our Constitution".
Soumaila Cissé, president of Mali's main opposition party, the Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD), was abducted on 25 March in Niafunké, in the northeastern region of Timbuktu, while campaigning for parliamentary election (March-April 2020).
On Thursday, he ended his 100th day of detention by his captors, whose identities are still unknown.
-0- PANA GT/JSG/BBA/AR 3July2020
