A presidential election scheduled for February in Mali has been postponed by the military junta

Government spokesman Col Abdoulaye Maiga said a new date would be announced and parliamentary elections would be held separately.

According to him, the delay was caused by “technical reasons” including issues related to the adoption of a new constitution and the review of electoral laws.

This announcement has been met with disappointment by civil society groups and the opposition.

Following military coups in 2020 and 2021, the elections were meant to restore constitutional rule to Mali.

As a result of pressure from the West African bloc Ecowas, the junta initially proposed 2026 elections, then revised it to 2025, and finally moved them to February 2024.