On Tuesday, a significant group of Mali’s religious leaders urged their followers to oppose a new constitution that would uphold the country’s junta’s commitment to secularism.
Mali’s proposed constitutional amendment is intended to allow the West African country to transition back to civilian governance from military authority.
The plebiscite for the new constitution was initially slated for March 19, but the junta has not commented on the timeline due to growing skepticism about the day.
Elections that would result in the return of civilian control will be held in February 2024, according to the junta’s stated agenda.
A constitutional draft received by junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita late last month stated an “attachment to the republican form and to the secularism of the state”.
“Secularism is not opposed to religion and to beliefs,” the drafts says, adding its aim was to “promote and reinforce living together based on tolerance, dialogue and mutual understanding”.
But the Mali League of Imams and Scholars for Islamic Solidarity called Tuesday for the “removal of pure and simple of the word” secularism and for it to be replaced with “multi-confessional state”.
It called on all “patriotic Muslims” to vote against the draft constitution in its current form.
Mali is a Muslim-majority country.