Malians in protest against constitution review plans of government

Around 2000 Malians took to the streets of capital Bamako saturday in protest against a plan by the government to revise the constitution.

Though the government has postponed the vote, this did not deter protesters from registering their voices against the move.

“We are not even able to secure ourselves, why we are going to touch on the constitution, while section 118 tells us not to touch the

constitution as long as territorial integrity is threatened”, Zoumana Sissoko, President of the Youth Organization for Peace and Development said angrily.

He added “today we know that the army is not even present not only in Kidal, the army is not in Tessalit, the army is not in Abeibara, the army is not in Menaka.

There is not even power in those areas. Are the inhabitants of these areas not part of Mali? Or shouldnt they be involved in the process of changing the constitution”

The demonstrators chanted many anti government songs, with many carrying placards with slogans against the constitution review.

Many in Mali believe the referendum for the constitution review in the country will be rigged.

“They’re going to rob us. When we go for the no, we know we’re not going to have the no. We are going to have 90 or 85% of the yes because they will rob us,

that’s why we are opting for withdrawal” Lali Traoré, a female demonstrator argued.

The National Assembly in Mali in June, adopted by a large majority, a law reviewing the February 25, 1992 constitution.

The government justifies its determination to revise the constitution saying it was concerned about “deficiencies and inadequacies” contained in the 1992 constitution.

The referendum earlier scheduled for July 9 has now been postponed