Bearing any hindrance the first round of Presidential Election in Mali will, at last, be held on 28th July, 2013 after a period of violence, chaos and uncertainty.
According to the All Africa Students Union (AASU) it is important to recall that in January, 2012 a Tuareg rebellion supported by some Islamist groups began in Northern Mali and in March, 2012 the military overthrew the government of Amadou Toumani Toure, the then elected president who was at the end of his second and last term in office, just one month before holding new presidential election.
“While the International Community especially the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was in frantic search for solution to that drawback, the rebellion group composed of a Tuareg separatist (MNLA) and Islamist movements continued their advancement and in an unimaginable short period of time was able to control more than half of the country. In the process the Islamists turned against the Tuaregs and took control of the North imposing Islamic sharia laws. This state of affairs brought to the fore the issues of the viability of African countries as they stand today.”
The Union recalled that, On January 11, 2013 the International Community led by France, supported by the Malian army and other African forces, had to take quick and efficient actions to reverse the situation. Here again the issue of the capacity and efficacy of Africans to deal with internal matters was put to a test. When are Africans going to be able to forestall or resolve their problems without relying on external assistance, saying?Considering the historical role of Mali in Africa and the World at large with cities like Timbuktu being centers of knowledge in the past, it is paradoxical that Mali has found itself in this sad state and for that matter the whole African continent.
“Africa, a continent endowed with abundant natural resources, is still lagging in many areas. This has engendered despairs and disillusionments among the populace particularly the youth. Our continent is sadly known as a place riddled with corruption and mired in abject poverty. At the same time it is now a common knowledge that the redemption of Africa depends largely on its unity and integration. But African leaders, after 50 years of independence of the continent, have still lackadaisical attitude towards all this important and ultimate goal of integration of the continent.”
“We, at the All Africa Students Union (AASU), call on the Malians to demonstrate to the World their ability to put their recent past and unfortunate experience behind through holding free, fair and peaceful election. Though the electoral process may not be perfect, Mali should overcome any challenge, stand tall and make us all proud by making this election another African success story.?We, once again, call on African leaders to fast track the integration of the continent in order to thwart any such ugly occurrence and allow a rapid and sustainable development of Africa.”
