Yesterday, Monday January 23, 2023, the Independent Authority for the Management of Elections (AIGE) held at its headquarters in Bamako, a meeting of the steering committee for the referendum and the general elections. It was in the presence of the Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga, the President of AIGE, Me Moustaphe Cissé, other members of AIGE and other personalities. During the opening ceremony, the president of the AIGE, Me Cissé, indicated that the updating of the electoral register is in progress. Before pointing out that the AIGE is waiting for the effectiveness of the new territorial configuration for the establishment of all its coordination. “Our optimism to achieve good elections will face enormous challenges, including time constraints, securing the territory and many other issues,” said Mr. Cissé.
In his words of welcome, the president of the AIGE, Me Moustaphe Cissé, thanked the State of Mali for the efforts made to start the activities of the Authority. Before adding that actions are underway for the recruitment of department heads by way of a call for applications and the forthcoming deployment of the staff of the former DGE (General Delegation for Elections) totally absorbed by the AIGE. “I would like to point out that the update of the electoral register is in progress, we continue to receive the rectifying tables resulting from the revision of the electoral lists of 2022 and the data entry operations have already begun.
With regard to the implementation of the coordination of the AIGE, it is necessary to point out the constraints linked to the prospect of the adoption by the CNT (National Transition Council) of the law relating to territorial reorganization. We expect the effectiveness of this new territorial configuration for the implementation of all the coordinations of the AIGE, as well as the final updating of the electoral register on the basis of the new territorial division.
The success of the referendum and the general elections undoubtedly calls for challenges to be met, including, among others, the timely financing not only of operating expenses, but also of expenses relating to referendum and electoral operations, all within a framework of close collaboration between all actors involved in the electoral process“, he said.
He said that this meeting will allow members of the College of AIGE to learn about the state of progress of activities in the context of the organization of the referendum and the upcoming general elections. “Bearing in mind the very specificity of what an election is, our optimism in achieving a good election will be faced with enormous challenges, including time constraints, securing territory and many other ongoing issues. treatment, in particular the use of the biometric identity card, the vote of the defense and security forces and that of the displaced», concluded the president of the AIGE.
For his part, Minister Abdoulaye Maïga indicated that this technical framework is an opportunity to continue discussions with a view to better meeting the challenges of organizing credible and transparent elections. According to him, the Steering Committee makes it possible, among other things, to contribute to the development of procedures and acts aimed at ensuring the proper organization of elections and the regularity of electoral operations in relation to the AIGE; the mobilization of the human, financial and material resources necessary for the conduct of the electoral process; designing and monitoring the implementation of training actions for administrative authorities and electoral officials; sensitizing and mobilizing citizens during the various elections; developing and implementing a communication plan. “ Our objective, by establishing this Steering Committee, is that it can be a framework for coordinating the actions of the ministerial departments concerned with the Elections and of the technical and financial partners. There is no question of screening the AIGE, which is responsible for organizing all referendum and electoral operations. By organizing this meeting of the Steering Committee here at the AIGE headquarters, we are laying the groundwork for frank collaboration, the pooling of our efforts and our skills in order to achieve the organization of fair, credible and transparent elections. “, concluded the minister. After the opening ceremony, Minister Abdoulaye Maïga visited the different compartments of the AIGE headquarters.
Aguibou Sogodogo
