In a bid to quell current unrest in Mali, the country’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has announced his decision to dissolve the constitutional court.
The president made his announcement in response to violent protests in the country that has resulted in the death of several members of the public, as well as the destruction of private and public properties. It is, however, imperative to note that constitutional court has been at the centre of controversies building up to the protests after it overturned provisional results for parliamentary elections in March.
“I have decided to repeal the licenses of the remaining members of the constitutional court,” the president said in a Saturday evening television address broadcasted throughout Mali.
“This de facto dissolution of the court will enable us, from next week, to ask relevant authorities to nominate new members so that the reformed court can quickly help us find solutions to the disputes arising from the legislative elections,” he added.
An Olive Branch for Mali
While pressure seems to mount for President Keita to resign over his handling of the country’s jihadist conflict and economic crisis as well, the president and his team have made effort to fill up the divide between itself, and a new opposition coalition led by the conservative Imam Mahmoud Dicko.
Speaking through Prime Minister Boubou Cisse of Mali, President Keita expressed openness to peace talks, a re-run of some of the disputed parliamentary elections, and an urgent need to explore the concept of a unity government.
However, while these announcements have been made, the opposition coalition has accused security forces of detaining two of the protest leaders, Choguel Kokala Maïga and Mountaga Tall. Another protest leader, Issa Kaou Djim, was also arrested on Friday.
President Keita resumed office in 2018 for the second term of five-years. With pressure being mounted by opposition coalitions and the general public, it is yet to be seen as to whether or not the president might consider stepping down.
