2020 Malian protests
{{short description|Protests in Mali}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox civil conflict
| title = 2020 Malian protests
| partof = the Mali War
| image =
| caption =
| date = 5 June – 19 August 2020
| coordinates =
| causes = * 2020 Malian parliamentary election
- Corruption
- Violence by Islamists in Azawad
- Government handling of the COVID-19 pandemic
| goals = * Resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta
- Dissolution of the National Assembly
| methods = * Protests
| result = * 2020 Malian coup d'état
- Resignation of the President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, and the Prime Minister, Boubou Cissé, along with the entire cabinet
- Dissolution of the National Assembly
- Assimi Goïta is appointed as the new Head of State
- Mahmoud Dicko leaves politics
| concessions =
| casualties_label = Deaths and injuries
| fatalities = at least 11
| injuries = 124
| side1 = *Protesters and dissidents of the government
- 5 June movement
- Opposition parties
----
{{flagicon|Mali}} National Committee for the Salvation of the People
- Elements of the Malian Armed Forces
| side2 = {{flagicon|Mali}} Government of Mali
- Rally for Mali
- Malian Armed Forces
- Pro-government protestors
| leadfigures1 = (no centralized leadership)
----
{{flagicon|Mali}} Assimi Goïta
{{flagicon|Mali}} Ismaël Wagué{{cite news |title=Mali Coup Soldiers Take to Airwaves, Promise Elections |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2020/08/19/world/africa/ap-af-mali-crisis.html |access-date=19 August 2020 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |date=19 August 2020}}
| leadfigures2 = {{flagicon|Mali}} Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta {{surrendered}}
(President of Mali)
{{flagicon|Mali}} Boubou Cissé {{surrendered}}
(Prime Minister of Mali)
{{flagicon|Mali}} Tiéna Coulibaly
(Minister of Defence)
{{flagicon|Mali}} Moussa Timbiné
(President of the National Assembly)
}}
Protests in Mali began on 5 June 2020 when protesters gathered in the streets of Bamako, calling for Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta to resign as president of Mali. The protests ended after a coup d'état on 18 August 2020. Both the president and prime minister of Mali were detained that afternoon, and in the evening they announced their resignations.{{Cite news|last=Maclean|first=Ruth|date=16 July 2020|title=Anger at Mali's President Rises After Security Forces Kill Protesters|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/16/world/africa/mali-protesters-killed-keita.html|access-date=17 July 2020|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news|date=17 July 2020|title=Mali PM apologises for security force 'excesses' during protests|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mali-politics-idUSKCN24I1P0|access-date=17 July 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Mali opposition leaders freed after days of anti-gov't protests|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/mali-opposition-leaders-freed-days-anti-gov-protests-200714065503441.html|access-date=17 July 2020|website=www.aljazeera.com}}{{Cite web|title=Calls for calm as Mali gov't criticised for response to protests|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/calls-calm-mali-gov-criticised-response-protests-200713092657817.html|access-date=17 July 2020|website=www.aljazeera.com}}{{Cite news|date=12 July 2020|title=Mali president dissolves top court amid unrest|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53378433|access-date=17 July 2020}}
Timeline
{{See also|2020 in Mali|2020 in West Africa}}
=Background=
Numerous factors led to the formation of the 5 June Movement and the August coup d’etat.
Tensions had been seething ever since irregularities were reported during the 2018 Malian presidential election.[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/mali-crisis-disputed-election-president-detention-200818174521078.html Mali crisis: From disputed election to president’s resignation] Al Jazeera, 18 August 2020, retrieved 12 September 2020 The on-going Mali War in the Tuareg-controlled northern region intensified the situation. Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports have documented army abuses against civilians in the central Mopti and Segou regions,[https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/09/08/mali-unchecked-abuses-military-operations Mali: Unchecked Abuses in Military Operations] Human Rights Watch, 8 September 2017 dozens of attacks by armed groups in 2019 that resulted in 456 civilian deaths and hundreds of injuries.[https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/02/10/mali-militias-armed-islamists-ravage-central-mali Mali: Militias, Armed Islamists Ravage Central Mali] HRW, 10 February 2020 Another twelve people were killed due to dissident Fulani in Mopti attacks in April.[https://www.france24.com/en/20200423-mali-fulani-jihadist-mopti-ali-dolo-bandiagara-ethnic-clashes Suspected Fulani attack kills at least a dozen in central Mali] France 24, 24 April 2020, retrieved 12 September 2020
Dissidents also questioned the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first two cases were reported on 25 March 2020,[https://web.archive.org/web/20200325134950/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-03/25/c_138916218.htm Mali reports first 2 confirmed cases of COVID-19] Xinhua News, 25 March 2020, retrieved 12 September 2020 and by the end of May, there were 1,265 cases and 77 deaths.{{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200601-covid-19-sitrep-133.pdf?sfvrsn=9a56f2ac_4|title=Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation report 133|page=6|date=1 June 2020|website=World Health Organization|access-date=21 July 2020}}
=The First round of the 2020 elections=
{{Main|2020 Malian parliamentary election}}
After repeated postponements,[https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2018/09/13/97001-20180913FILWWW00371-mali-les-elections-legislatives-reportees-d-un-mois.php Mali: les élections législatives reportées d'un mois] Le Figuero and AFP, 13 September 2018[https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/165701/mali-legislative-elections-postponed-to-june-2019-update-16 Mali: Legislative elections postponed to June 2019] Gardaworld News Alerts, 16 October 2018[https://www.jeuneafrique.com/786365/politique/mali-adoption-dun-projet-de-loi-prolongeant-le-mandat-des-deputes-jusqua-2020/ Mali : adoption d’un projet de loi prolongeant le mandat des députés jusqu’en 2020] Jeune Afrique, 8 June 2018 the first round of the 2020 Parliamentary election was finally held on 29 March 2020. Opposition leader Soumaïla Cissé and members of his electoral team were kidnapped by jihadists three days before the election.[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mali-security/mali-opposition-leader-goes-missing-with-11-others-party-idUSKBN21D1DA Mali opposition leader taken hostage with six others: party] Reuters, 26 March 2020, retrieved 12 September 2020 He was released on 6 October.[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/06/kidnapped-mali-politician-and-french-aid-worker-freed Kidnapped Mali politician and French aid worker freed] The Guardian, 7 October 2020, retrieved 28 October 2020 Polling stations were ransacked, village leaders were kidnapped, and a roadside bomb killed nine people including three soldiers on election day, 29 March.{{cite web|url= https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/malian-parliamentary-elections-marred-kidnappings-attacks-200331093957268.html |title= Malian parliamentary elections marred by kidnappings, attacks|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=31 March 2020|access-date=12 September 2020}} Voter turnout was only 12% in Bamako.{{cite web|website=Voice of America News|url= https://www.voanews.com/a/africa_elections-continue-mali-despite-virus-violence-fears/6187825.html |title= Elections Continue in Mali Despite Virus, Violence Fears |date=19 April 2020|access-date=12 September 2020}}
=The Second round of the 2020 elections=
At least 25 soldiers were killed in an attack on a military base in the northern town of Bamba, Gao Region, on 6 April,{{cite web|website=Al Jazeera|title=Dozens of Malian soldiers killed in attack on military base|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/20-malian-soldiers-killed-attack-military-base-200406103504731.html |date=6 April 2020|access-date=12 September 2020}} and concerns about violence dominated the second round of the elections.
Incidents on 19 April prevented some people from casting votes, and on 30 April the Constitutional Court overturned the results in 31 districts, giving Rally for Mali, which is led by President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, ten more seats than originally expected. Opposition parties led by Iman Mahmoud Dicko established the {{ill|Mouvement du 5 Juin - Rassemblement des forces patriotiques|fr}} ({{langx|en|5 June Movement - Rally of Patriotic Forces}}) on 30 May, and thousands took to the streets in protest on 5 June.
French forces fought the Battle of Talahandak, killing Abdelmalek Droukdel of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb near Tessalit, Kidal Region, {{convert|20|km|mi}} from the Mali-Algeria border.{{cite news |title=Al-Qaeda's North African commander killed, France says |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/al-qaeda-commander-north-africa-abdelmalek-droukdel-dead-a4461536.html |access-date=12 September 2020 |work=Evening Standard |agency=Reuters |date=5 June 2020 |language=en}}
Boubou Cisse was reappointed Prime Minister on 11 June, when he was instructed to form a new government.
Tens of thousands of Malians protested again on 19 June, demanding the resignation of President Keïta.{{cite news |publisher=Reuters |title=West African bloc urges Mali to re-run disputed elections amid mass protests |date=20 June 2020 |url=https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN23R0I9-OZATP |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621163927/https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN23R0I9-OZATP |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 June 2020 |first=Tiemoko |last=Diallo |first2=Edward |last2=McAllister |editor-first=Christina |editor-last=Fincher |editor-first2=Mike |editor-last2=Harrison}}
On 20 June, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) called for new elections to be held.
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and Imam Mahmoud Dicko met on 5 July,{{cite news |title=Mali: President Keita meets protest leader Mahmoud Dicko |publisher=Al Jazeera English |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/mali-president-keita-meets-protest-leader-mahmoud-dicko-200705160853110.html |quote=A video posted on the presidency's Twitter account showed the meeting between President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Mahmoud Dicko, an imam and leading figure of the so-called June 5 movement, in the capital, Bamako, on Saturday.}} but the opposition continued to call for civil disobedience to force Keïta's resignation and the dissolution of Parliament.
Protests turned violent on 10 July. For the next three days, protesters in Bamako clashed with security forces,{{cite web|website=Al Jazeera|title=Anti-gov't protests resume in Mali after weeks-long pause|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/anti-gov-protests-resume-mali-weeks-long-pause-200811163841598.html |date=11 August 2020|access-date=12 September 2020}} and security forces reportedly fired live rounds at the protesters, killing at least 11 and injuring 124.{{cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/calls-calm-mali-gov-criticised-response-protests-200713092657817.html |title=Calls for calm as Mali gov't criticised for response to protests |date=13 July 2020 |publisher=Al Jazeera English |quote=Bloody protests broke out in the capital, Bamako, on Friday and Saturday, with reports saying security forces fired live rounds during clashes with demonstrators, some of whom had occupied state buildings. [...] A senior official at an emergency department of a major hospital in Bamako was quoted by AFP news agency as saying 11 people died and 124 were injured since Friday.}}
On 23 July, Presidents Muhammadu Buhari (Nigeria), Mahamadou Issoufou (Niger), Nana Akufo-Addo (Ghana), Alassane Ouattara (Côte d'Ivoire), and Macky Sall (Senegal) arrived in Bamako to meet with President Keïta and opposition leaders after a failed ECOWAS mediation mission.{{Cite news |last=Mbah |first=Fidelis |title=West African leaders on high-stakes mission to end Mali standoff |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/west-african-leaders-high-stakes-mission-mali-standoff-200723061153036.html |access-date=27 July 2020}}
On 27 July, ECOWAS called for the creation of a unity government and warned of sanctions.
Nine new judges, said to be Keïta supporters, were appointed to the Constitutional Court on 10 August, in response to ECOWAS' demands for reform.
Thousands gathered in Independence Square in Bamako on 11 August, where they were met with tear gas and water cannons.{{cite web|website=Al Jazeera|title= Mali police use tear gas to disperse anti-gov't protesters|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/mali-police-tear-gas-disperse-anti-gov-protesters-200812135412022.html |date=12 August 2020|access-date=12 September 2020}}
=Coup d’etat=
{{Main|2020 Malian coup d'état}}
Mutinying soldiers arrested President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and Prime Minister Boubou Cissé after taking over a military camp near Bamako on the morning of 18 August.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53825673|title=Soldiers seize Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta|access-date=19 August 2020}}
Early in the morning of 19 August, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta announced his resignation and dissolved parliament.[https://apnews.com/54737684e3e2a84f9b44656de7343e56 Mali’s president announces resignation after soldiers mutiny] AP News Mahmoud Dicko announced that he was leaving politics.{{cite news |title=After meeting Mali mutineers, protest leader Dicko to step back from politics |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mali-security-dicko/after-meeting-mali-mutineers-protest-leader-dicko-to-step-back-from-politics-idUSKCN25F2LA |access-date=12 September 2020 |work=Reuters |agency=Reuters |date=19 August 2020 |language=en}} Colonel Assimi Goïta is appointed to head the new government, the Comité national pour le salut du peuple {{in lang|fr}} (National Committee for the Salvation of the People, CNSP).{{cite news |title=El coronel Assimi Goita, designado nuevo hombre fuerte de Mali tras el golpe |url=https://www.efe.com/efe/espana/mundo/el-coronel-assimi-goita-designado-nuevo-hombre-fuerte-de-mali-tras-golpe/10001-4322436 |access-date=12 September 2020 |work=www.efe.com |agency=EFE |date=19 August 2020 |language=es}}{{cite web |last1=Postmaster |title=Qui est Assimi Goïta, le chef de la junte au Mali – MALI CANAL |url=https://www.malicanal.com/qui-est-assimi-goita/ |publisher=MaliCanal |access-date=12 September 2020 |language=fr-FR |date=23 August 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Mali topics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Malian protests, 2020}}
Category:Protests against results of elections
Category:Bamako in the Mali War
Category:2020 labor disputes and strikes
Category:Protest-related deaths
Category:21st-century mass murder in Mali