Date: Thursday 27 November 2020
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/92594664283?pwd=SlZrajJNSHE1VUZWRFZhNG02bGdIZz09
Time: 11h00 – 13h00 SAST
The involvement of the Malian military in the politics of the country is not a new phenomenon. Since independence in 1960, the Malian military has intervened more than three times in Malian politics. While previous interventions were vehemently condemned, the August 16, 2020 coup d’état have not received wide criticism as expected. The overthrown of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita came after weeks of sustained protests and civil disobedience called by civil society groups, the political opposition and prominent Muslim clerics in the country.
The protests were orchestrated by the inability of the president to address the insecurity situation in the north of the country, governance challenges and a dire economic crisis characterised by rising cost of primary produce. Though a transitional government has been inaugurated, the challenges that gave rise to the uprising persists.
The seminar contextualises the coup within the increasing insecurity challenges in Mali and its impact on governance in the sub-region and Africa as a whole. Emphasis would be on article 4 (p) of the AU Constitutive Act which prohibits the unconstitutional change of government in the continent. The panellists would address (1) the implications of the involvement of the military in African politics, (2) assessing ECOWAS intervention in the country after the coup (3) and implications of the coup on peace and security in the sub-region.
Programme
Chair
Dr Thokozani Simelane; Research Director, AISA/HSRC
Panel
The involvement of the military in politics: A continental overview
Dr Nicasius Achu Check, AISA/HSRC
‘Assessing ECOWAS intervention efforts after the August 2020 Coup d’état in Mali’.
Dr Fatoumata Keita, Universite des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines de Bamako
Bamako, Mali
‘Military in Malian politics; Impact on peace and security in the Sahel’
Dr Aboubacar Niambele, Universite des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines de Bamako
Bamako, Mali
Vote of Thanks
Dr Thokozani Simelane; Research Director, AISA/HSRC
