Mali’s junta delays February presidential election

By AFP Mali’s ruling junta on Monday announced it would delay a presidential election scheduled for February that was aimed at returning civilian leaders to power in the jihadist-hit West African nation. The two rounds, initially set for February 4 and 18, 2024, “will be slightly postponed for technical reasons”, government spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga told reporters. Those reasons include issues linked to the adoption this year of a new constitution and a review of the electoral lists, he said. He also cited a dispute with French company Idemia, which the junta says is involved in the census process. “The new dates for the presidential election will be communicated later,” Maiga said.