In Mali, a new law paving the way for elections could prompt regional powers to ease the harsh sanctions that have crippled the Malian economy since last year's coup, but will also likely deepen the military’s control over the West African country. The Malian military government adopted a new electoral law on June 25 that sets the legislative groundwork for general elections in 2024. The electoral law is the first legal framework for elections passed since the May 2021 military coup that ousted the civilian government. The legislation creates a single election management body to be created and overseen by the executive, simplifying the steps to hold an election. Crucially, Article 155 of the law allows members of the military to run in future elections as long as they resign or retire from the security establishment six months prior to elections (although this period is reduced to four months during transitional...
