Earth Science News
AFRICA NEWS
Mali junta chief brings in new constitution amid protests
Mali junta chief brings in new constitution amid protests
by AFP Staff Writers
Bamako (AFP) July 22, 2023

The head of the junta in Mali brought in a new constitution for the West African nation on Saturday, prompting protests from concerned political and civil opponents.

The military leaders have made the constitution a cornerstone for the rebuilding of Mali, which is facing the spread of jihadism and a deep, multi-faceted crisis.

Ninety-seven percent of the referendum votes were cast in favour of the changes last month, according to the electoral authority. However turnout was put at 38 percent in the landlocked Sahel country, which is struggling with an 11-year jihadist insurgency.

The new constitution became legal when it was promulgated in the official gazette on Saturday by Colonel Assimi Goita, head of the military junta in power since 2020.

A number of petitions lodged with the Constitutional Court were rejected, including one calling for the referendum to be annulled because it had not been held throughout the country.

A movement critical of the colonels in power said on Saturday that it deplored how the court had dealt with "the relevant and well-founded petitions of its members, going so far as to ignore the evidence put forward".

Opponents of the plan believe the vote was designed to keep the colonels in power beyond the presidential election scheduled for February 2024, despite their initial commitment to hand over to civilians after the elections.

The new constitution will strengthen the role of the president, a change that has spurred expectations that Goita intends to vie for the job.

The changes will also give pride of place to the armed forces which have pivoted the country away from the former dominant power France and towards Russia.

The opposition movement, which brings together political parties and civil society organisations, denounced the validation of the referendum vote "despite the numerous irregularities, violations of the law and the absence of voting in several parts of the country".

Ismael Sacko, head of the Social Democratic Party which was dissolved by the junta in mid-June, condemned "a plot against democracy" and called on the Malian judiciary "to get its act together".

Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
AFRICA NEWS
Chinese man convicted in Malawi over racist videos
Lilongwe, Malawi (AFP) July 20, 2023
A Malawian court on Thursday convicted a Chinese national accused of racism and exploiting children in relation to a series of online videos and ordered him to leave the country. A judge in the African nation's capital of Lilongwe handed Lu Ke, 27, a 12-month sentence after the man found guilty of procuring children to take part in entertainment and racially exploiting them. Public prosecutor Masauko Chamkakala said Lu, who was arrested last year, was given seven days to leave Malawi, having al ... read more

AFRICA NEWS
Ukraine alleges deliberate plan to tank grain pact; Record world harvests will blunt impact

'Extreme' Indonesian market ends dog, cat meat trade

Erdogan still seeking to persuade Putin over Ukraine grain deal

Chinese ghost town of mansions reclaimed by farmers

AFRICA NEWS
Within sight of New York City, a despoiled river comes back to life

Macron tells New Caledonia separatists to accept pro-France votes

Will climate change hit Mediterranean tourism?

Florida and Mediterranean ocean temps at record highs

AFRICA NEWS
Europe, US heatwaves 'virtually impossible' without climate change

The Pacific slope of Peru is greening, and this is not good news

UN climate expert panel elects new chair

July likely to be warmest month on record: NASA scientist

AFRICA NEWS
Harnessing the power of the Sun for water remediation

Bifacial perovskite solar cells point to higher efficiency

Revolutionary recovery technique for space solar cells uncovered by Australian researchers

Clean energy on agenda of Japan PM's pre-COP28 talks in UAE

AFRICA NEWS
Harnessing synthetic biology to make sustainable alternatives to petroleum products

University of Illinois study finds turning food waste into bioenergy can become a profitable industry

New technology will let farmers produce their own fertilizer and e-fuels

Clean, sustainable fuels made 'from thin air' and plastic waste

AFRICA NEWS
'Guardian angels': Rhodes locals help fire-stranded tourists

'Slow disaster': Indonesians in sinking village forced to adapt

India landslide toll jumps to 27, at least 50 missing

Turkey's Antioch rises from the ruins, stone by stone

AFRICA NEWS
New catalyst could dramatically cut methane pollution from millions of engines

G20 energy ministers fail to agree on fossil fuels roadmap

France blames Russia for G20 failure on fossil fuels

British court spares Shell in climate case

AFRICA NEWS
IMF raises 2023 economic outlook but warns of slowing global growth

Markets fluctuate as US jobs data knocks rate hopes

China appoints new central bank governor as economy flags

Markets mixed as Fed rate decision looms, China rally fades

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.