Mali’s military junta has proposed a five-year extension to its rule, delaying the presidential election until 2026, according to a plan obtained by the Associated Press. The proposal includes a constitutional referendum in 2023 and legislative elections in 2025, with the junta arguing the extended timeline is necessary to complete political and institutional reforms before holding credible nationwide polls.
The current 18-month transition period, which was agreed upon with regional mediators, is set to end in late February. Under the junta’s fresh plan, the military-led government would remain in power until January 2027, led by the coup’s chief. Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop acknowledged the proposal calls for a five-year extension but said the transitional government remains open to discussion on the matter.
The Economic Community of West African States (CEDEAO) has warned it may impose additional sanctions if elections are not held by the end of February and has convened an extraordinary meeting within a week to review the junta’s proposals. The bloc has previously threatened to utilize force to uphold Mali’s territorial integrity amid the ongoing political crisis.
The development underscores growing regional concerns over Mali’s democratic backsliding and the junta’s resistance to external pressure for a timely return to civilian rule. Prolonged military governance risks deepening instability in a country already grappling with a decade-long insurgency by Islamist extremists, which has fueled widespread insecurity across the north and center of the country.
