Minor Delay Expected for February Elections in Mali

The military council in Mali has announced today, Monday, an expected "minor delay" for the presidential elections scheduled for February. This delay is attributed to "technical reasons." In the statement, the council cited several factors for the postponement, including a dispute with a French company regarding the civil registry database. The aim of the elections is to restore constitutional governance in Mali after two military coups in August 2020 and May 2021. The first round of the elections was initially expected to take place on February 4, with the second round set to occur two weeks later.