MALI
Mali’s presidential election has been thrown into doubt after Local Government Administrators launched a seven-day strike in support of demands for more security and allowances.
The administrators, who hold the rank of prefects or sub-prefects, are the Government’s representatives at the local level and are in charge of organising the 29 July vote in the strife-torn country.
Unions representing the officials said talks with the Government had collapsed.
A spokesman for one of the unions, Olivier Traore said workers were concerned about safety and working conditions.
“We have requested benefits in accordance with regulations, but we have not been listened to,” Mr Traore said.
The strike comes against a backdrop of growing security concerns and instability ahead of the election and could impact the organisation of the vote.
Another union official, Ousmane Christian Diarra said 54 prefects and their deputies and 285 sub-prefects had walked out and the strike was supported by nearly 100 per cent of administrators across Mali.
“If at the end of the seven days we are not satisfied, as we said in the notice, the strike will be renewed automatically and will be unlimited until full satisfaction of our demands,” Mr Diarra said.
He said the strike could impact the schedule of election preparations, including the distribution of voter cards, which is carried out by local officials.
It would also paralyse the central administration.
Mali has been in turmoil since Tuareg rebels and loosely allied Islamists took over the north of the country in 2012, prompting French forces to intervene to push them back the following year.
Those groups have since regained a foothold in the north and centre of the country.
Bamako, 27 June 2018
