Malian parliamentary election, 2007
Encyclopedia
A parliamentary election was held in Mali
on 1 July 2007 and 22 July. In the first round, there were about 1,400 candidates for 147 seats in the National Assembly
.
The parliamentary election followed the April 2007 presidential election
, in which President Amadou Toumani Touré
won a second term with 71.20% of the vote.
and two in Goundam
), one joint list for the Alliance for Democracy in Mali
(ADEMA), the Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD), and the Party for National Rebirth
(PARENA) in Nioro du Sahel
, and one joint list for the Patriotic Movement for Renewal
(MPR) and URD in Mopti
.
Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta
of the Rally for Mali
(RPM) and Oumar Mariko
of the African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence
(SADI), both of whom were defeated in the 2007 presidential election, stood as candidates in the parliamentary election: Keïta in Commune IV in Bamako, where 17 lists competed for the two available seats in the first round, and Mariko at the head of a list in Kolondieba
. PARENA leader and 2007 presidential candidate Tiébilé Dramé
was running on the ADEMA-URD-PARENA list in Nioro du Sahel that was rejected by the Constitutional Court on May 31. In rejecting this list, the Court said that one of the candidates on the list, Cheickna Hamala Bathily, had multiple birthplaces recorded.
The opposition sought a new voter file
and new voter registration cards for the election, but this did not occur. 900 observers were accredited for the election, 700 of whom were Malian and 200 of whom were international observers.
The first round of the election on July 1 reportedly proceeded without incident, although voting was extended by four hours in Ségou
due to heavy rain. Voter turnout was reportedly low. President Touré attributed this to Mali's system of automatic voter registration and uninspiring politicians, while Keïta argued that the voters were disillusioned, pointing to the April presidential election, which he alleged was fraudulent.
Final first round results from the Constitutional Court were announced on July 14, confirming provisional results released on July 6. 13 seats were won in the first round, all of them by parties included in the pro-Touré Alliance for Democracy and Progress
(ADP) coalition: nine seats for the Alliance for Democracy in Mali
(ADEMA), three for the Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD), and one for the National Rally for Democracy
(RND). Out of 55 districts, eight were decided in the first round, leaving 47 districts (and 134 seats) to be decided in the second round. In the eight districts won in the first round, an ADEMA-RND list won three seats in Mopti District, a URD list (including former prime minister Younoussi Touré
) won two seats in Niafunké District
, an ADEMA list won one seat in Diré District, an ADEMA list won three seats in Gao District
, an ADEMA list won one seat in Ménaka District, an ADEMA list won one seat in Abeibara District, a URD list won one seat in Téssalit District, and an ADEMA list won one seat in Tin-Essako District. Voter turnout in the first round was placed at 33.39%.
Provisional second round results showed the ADP had won a total of 116 seats (in both rounds). Of the ADP parties, ADEMA had the most seats with a total of 55, followed by URD with a total of 35. The opposition parties grouped into the Front for Democracy and the Republic
(FDR) had 15 seats, 11 for the RPM and four for PARENA. SADI, which is not part of the ADP or the FDR, had four seats. Independents had 13 seats.
Final results announced by the Constitutional Court on August 11 showed the ADP with 113 seats (including 51 for ADEMA and 34 for the URD), the FDR with 15 seats, independents with 15 seats, and SADI with four seats. ADEMA lost four of the seats it had in the provisional results due to the court's ruling that electoral fraud occurred in three districts: Koulikoro, Goundam and Tombouctou. 15 parties won seats.
A number of important politicians failed to win seats in the first round and faced the second round: Keïta, Mariko, National Congress for Democratic Initiative
President Mountaga Tall
in Ségou, and ADEMA President Dioncounda Traoré
in Nara
. All of them were successful in the second round. Second round turnout was estimated at about 12% in Bamako and 33% in the countryside.
Observers from the West African Economic and Monetary Union praised the organization of the second round on July 24, but criticized low voter turnout. A few arrests for fraud were reported, mostly of people with multiple voter cards.
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
on 1 July 2007 and 22 July. In the first round, there were about 1,400 candidates for 147 seats in the National Assembly
National Assembly of Mali
The unicameral National Assembly of Mali is the country's legislative body.The current National Assembly, formed following elections held on 14 and 28 July 2002, has a total of 160 members. 147 members are directly elected in single or multi-member constituencies using the Two-Round system...
.
The parliamentary election followed the April 2007 presidential election
Malian presidential election, 2007
A presidential election was held in Mali on 29 April 2007. President Amadou Toumani Touré ran for re-election against seven other candidates and won in the first round with about 71% of the vote, according to final results.-Pre-campaign:...
, in which President Amadou Toumani Touré
Amadou Toumani Touré
Amadou Toumani Touré is the president of Mali. He overthrew a military ruler, Moussa Traoré in 1991, then handed power to civilian authorities the next year...
won a second term with 71.20% of the vote.
Background
The election was conducted on the basis of candidate lists for each electoral district. 535 lists were deposited with the Constitutional Court in May: 125 joint lists for parties running candidates on the same list, another 278 lists for individual parties, and a further 132 independent lists. Five lists were rejected by the Constitutional Court on May 31: three independent lists (one in TominianTominian
Tominian is a small town and commune and capital of the Cercle of Tominian in the Ségou Region of Mali. As of 1998 the commune had a population of 18,130.In 2004, the population in the main town was recorded at 3,119 people....
and two in Goundam
Goundam
Goundam is a commune and town in north central Mali, in the Tombouctou Region. It is the capital of Goundam Cercle, one of five subdivisions of the Region. In the 2009 census the commune had a population of 16,253...
), one joint list for the Alliance for Democracy in Mali
Alliance for Democracy in Mali
The Alliance for Democracy in Mali-Pan-African Party for Liberty, Solidarity and Justice is a political party in Mali....
(ADEMA), the Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD), and the Party for National Rebirth
Party for National Rebirth
The Party for National Rebirth is a Malian political party, created in 1995 by activists from the National Congress for Democratic Initiative . The Party for National Rebirth is headed by Tiébilé Dramé, who ran for the presidency in 2002, gaining 4 % of the votes, coming in fourth place...
(PARENA) in Nioro du Sahel
Nioro du Sahel
Nioro du Sahel often referred to as simply Nioro is a town and commune in the Kayes Region of western Mali, 241 km from the city of Kayes. It is located 275 miles north-west of the capital Bamako...
, and one joint list for the Patriotic Movement for Renewal
Patriotic Movement for Renewal
The Patriotic Movement for Renewal is a political party in Mali.The MPR candidate in the presidential election held on 28 April 2002 was Choguel Kokalla Maïga, who won 2.7 % of the vote....
(MPR) and URD in Mopti
Mopti
Mopti is a city at the confluence of the Niger and the Bani in Mali, between Timbuktu and Ségou. The city lies on three islands linked by dykes: the New Town, the Old Town and Medina Coura. As a result it is sometimes known as the "Venice of Mali".-History:The city of Mopti derives its name from...
.
Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta
Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta
Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta is a Malian politician. He was Prime Minister of Mali from 1994 to 2000 and President of the National Assembly of Mali from 2002 to 2007. He is currently the President of the Rally for Mali political party....
of the Rally for Mali
Rally for Mali
The Rally for Mali is a Malian political party created by Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in June 2001.In October 2000, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, the former prime minister of Mali, resigned from incumbent President Alpha Oumar Konaré's party, the Alliance for Democracy in Mali-African Party for Solidarity...
(RPM) and Oumar Mariko
Oumar Mariko
Oumar Mariko is a Malian doctor, politician and noted former student activist. He is the secretary general of African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence and has twice run for President of Mali, in 2002 and 2007....
of the African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence
African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence
The African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence is a left-wing political party in Mali. It was founded by Cheick Oumar Sissoko and Oumar Mariko in 1996; Sissoko is the party's President and Mariko is its Secretary-General, the top post in the party...
(SADI), both of whom were defeated in the 2007 presidential election, stood as candidates in the parliamentary election: Keïta in Commune IV in Bamako, where 17 lists competed for the two available seats in the first round, and Mariko at the head of a list in Kolondieba
Kolondieba
Kolondieba is a small town and commune in the Cercle of Kolondieba in the Sikasso Region of southern Mali. As of 1998 the commune had a population of 35,149.- References :...
. PARENA leader and 2007 presidential candidate Tiébilé Dramé
Tiébilé Dramé
Tiébilé Dramé is a Malian politician.Dramé was born in Nioro du Sahel. He studied at the Ecole normale supérieure in Bamako before obtaining his Advanced studies diploma in African history from the University of Paris...
was running on the ADEMA-URD-PARENA list in Nioro du Sahel that was rejected by the Constitutional Court on May 31. In rejecting this list, the Court said that one of the candidates on the list, Cheickna Hamala Bathily, had multiple birthplaces recorded.
First round
The campaign for the election began on June 10 and continued until June 29.The opposition sought a new voter file
Voter File
A voter file is a list of all registered voters in an area. In the US most states compile this list under the organization responsible for elections. It is generally available to candidates for office and political organizations for a fee. This is sometimes also known as a Voter Roll.In the United...
and new voter registration cards for the election, but this did not occur. 900 observers were accredited for the election, 700 of whom were Malian and 200 of whom were international observers.
The first round of the election on July 1 reportedly proceeded without incident, although voting was extended by four hours in Ségou
Ségou
Ségou is a city in south-central Mali, lying northeast of Bamako on the River Niger, in the region of Ségou. It was founded by the Bozo people, on a site about from the present town...
due to heavy rain. Voter turnout was reportedly low. President Touré attributed this to Mali's system of automatic voter registration and uninspiring politicians, while Keïta argued that the voters were disillusioned, pointing to the April presidential election, which he alleged was fraudulent.
Final first round results from the Constitutional Court were announced on July 14, confirming provisional results released on July 6. 13 seats were won in the first round, all of them by parties included in the pro-Touré Alliance for Democracy and Progress
Alliance for Democracy and Progress (Mali)
The Alliance for Democracy and Progress is an alliance of political parties in Mali, that supports president Amadou Toumani Touré. In the 1 July and 22 July 2007 Malian parliamentary elections, the member parties of the alliance won 113 out of 160 seats....
(ADP) coalition: nine seats for the Alliance for Democracy in Mali
Alliance for Democracy in Mali
The Alliance for Democracy in Mali-Pan-African Party for Liberty, Solidarity and Justice is a political party in Mali....
(ADEMA), three for the Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD), and one for the National Rally for Democracy
National Rally for Democracy
The National Rally for Democracy is a political party in Algeria. It is led by Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia.The RND was founded on February 21, 1997. The party held its Second Congress on May 15–17, 2003....
(RND). Out of 55 districts, eight were decided in the first round, leaving 47 districts (and 134 seats) to be decided in the second round. In the eight districts won in the first round, an ADEMA-RND list won three seats in Mopti District, a URD list (including former prime minister Younoussi Touré
Younoussi Touré
Younoussi Touré is a Malian politician. He was Prime Minister of Mali from 9 June 1992 to 12 April 1993 and was the first Prime Minister appointed under President Alpha Oumar Konaré...
) won two seats in Niafunké District
Niafunké
- External links :* Short album description and sample of Tulumba....
, an ADEMA list won one seat in Diré District, an ADEMA list won three seats in Gao District
Gao
Gao is a town in eastern Mali on the River Niger lying ESE of Timbuktu. Situated on the left bank of the river at the junction with the Tilemsi valley, it is the capital of the Gao Region and had a population of 86,663 in 2009....
, an ADEMA list won one seat in Ménaka District, an ADEMA list won one seat in Abeibara District, a URD list won one seat in Téssalit District, and an ADEMA list won one seat in Tin-Essako District. Voter turnout in the first round was placed at 33.39%.
Second round
The campaign for the second round began on July 15. Although Touré urged people to vote, voter turnout in the second round was reportedly low.Provisional second round results showed the ADP had won a total of 116 seats (in both rounds). Of the ADP parties, ADEMA had the most seats with a total of 55, followed by URD with a total of 35. The opposition parties grouped into the Front for Democracy and the Republic
Front for Democracy and the Republic
The Front for Democracy and the Republic is an opposition coalition in Mali that fought the presidential election on 29 April 2007 and the parliamentary election of 1 July and 22 July 2007. The FDR is an umbrella organisation, bringing together 16 independent political parties and groups...
(FDR) had 15 seats, 11 for the RPM and four for PARENA. SADI, which is not part of the ADP or the FDR, had four seats. Independents had 13 seats.
Final results announced by the Constitutional Court on August 11 showed the ADP with 113 seats (including 51 for ADEMA and 34 for the URD), the FDR with 15 seats, independents with 15 seats, and SADI with four seats. ADEMA lost four of the seats it had in the provisional results due to the court's ruling that electoral fraud occurred in three districts: Koulikoro, Goundam and Tombouctou. 15 parties won seats.
A number of important politicians failed to win seats in the first round and faced the second round: Keïta, Mariko, National Congress for Democratic Initiative
National Congress for Democratic Initiative
The National Congress for Democratic Initiative is a political party in Mali, founded in 1990 and led by Mountaga Tall.In the first presidential election following the transition to democracy , Mountaga Tali received 11.41% of votes and placed third.In 1995, a group of militants led by Tiébilé...
President Mountaga Tall
Mountaga Tall
Mountaga Tall is a Malian politician. He is the President of the National Congress for Democratic Initiative and a Deputy in the National Assembly of Mali; he has also served as a member of the Pan-African Parliament....
in Ségou, and ADEMA President Dioncounda Traoré
Dioncounda Traoré
Dioncounda Traoré is a Malian politician. He has been the President of the Alliance for Democracy in Mali-African Party for Solidarity and Justice since 2000 and has been the President of the National Assembly of Mali since September 2007...
in Nara
Nara, Mali
Nara is a city of Mali's Koulikoro Region and the capital of its Cercle. The Cercle is located near the Mauritanian border and was estimated in 2004 to contain 11,000 people...
. All of them were successful in the second round. Second round turnout was estimated at about 12% in Bamako and 33% in the countryside.
Observers from the West African Economic and Monetary Union praised the organization of the second round on July 24, but criticized low voter turnout. A few arrests for fraud were reported, mostly of people with multiple voter cards.