MALI’S ELECTION BRINGS THE PROMISE OF DEMOCRACY TO A POPULATION EAGER TO MOVE ON FROM THE PAST 20 MONTHS OF STRIFE.
Bamako, Mali – Mali’s crucial presidential election on Sunday will take place in an atmosphere of hope but shaded by uncertainty.
Uncertainty because since the end of military rule, Mali has held five elections. All had significant problems. More uncertainty because of the political turmoil that has plagued us for the past 20 months. And, even more uncertainty because of deficiencies already apparent in our voter registration system.
As a Malian, I can’t deny these feelings of uncertainty, especially because I won’t be able to vote – my name was not entered in the voter rolls in time.
But I remain very hopeful. As a young entrepreneur working to build jobs and infrastructure, I can feel the excitement for this election. The increased sophistication and substance of the presidential campaigns and the key role mobile technology is playing will likely make Sunday’s polls the most successful in Mali’s democracy, now more than two decades old.
The upcoming contest will be the fifth in the country’s history; there were none before 1991…