Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

Electoral reform in Mali

In 2008, Mali initiated a three year reform process aimed at assessing and improving the functioning of its multi-party democracy. President Touré mandated a commission, led by former minister Daba Diawarra, to organise widespread consultations and formulate recommendations in this respect. Amongst the 233 proposals of the Expert Committee was the setting-up of a neutral electoral commission, based on the Ghanaian model.

The exchange to Ghana offered an opportunity for the Malian political parties and NIMD’s partner in Mali, the Centre Malien pour le Dialogue Inter-Partis et la Démocratie (CMDID) to come up with recommendations for the set-up of this new electoral management body.

The delegation included Malian politicians, a representative of the commission of parliamentary laws, and a representative from civil society.

The Ghanaian model

In Ghana the unanimity of the political elite in viewing the Electoral Commission as independent, is based on its impartiality and on the successful settlement of various conflicts by the Ghanaian forum for political parties (GPPP).

The establishment of a permanent dialogue between political parties in Ghana has also helped to create a sound and tolerant political culture, in which the political elite has the ability to overcome the political divides to the benefit of their country and its development.

The Malians learned that there are benefits in having a single body to manage all aspects of elections, from the establishment of the electoral register to the declaration of the results. They also learned that the independence of an Electoral Management body can only be guaranteed if it is provided with sufficient human resources, as well as legal, material and financial means.

CMDID follow-up

As a follow-up to the exchange visit, CMDID published a booklet on the comparative advantages of the Ghanaian election management structure vis a vis the proposed structure in Mali. An interparty meeting was organised in Mali to discuss the proposed reforms to the election management structure and to formulate a list of recommendations. These recommendations were disseminated through newspapers and the national television.

Furthermore, CMDID organised a meeting in parliament to inform the members of parliament about the conclusions of the mission and the recommendations of the parties. The session was positively received.

The parliamentarians present during the parliamentary session have since asked CMDID to provide input when the proposed reforms of the election management structure in Mali are presented to parliament and discussed in parliamentary committee meetings.