AFRICAN ELECTIONS DATABASE

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Elections in Mali
 
Political Profile
Political System: Transitional Government 
Interim President: Dioncounda Traoré (ADEMA) [since 12 April 2012] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 5-year term. Electoral System: Two Round (Run-off). Note: The elected President, Amadou Toumani Touré, was overthrown in a 22 March 2012 military coup.
Interim Prime Minister: Cheick Modibo Diarra [since 17 April 2012] The Prime Minister is appointed by the President.
National Assembly [unicameral] (160 Seats) 147 members are elected by direct popular vote using the two-round (run-off), 13 members representing Malians abroad are elected separately; members serve 5-year terms. Note: The National Assembly was suspended after the 22 March 2012 military coup.
Political Situation since Independence
1960-1968 One Party State (US-RDA)
1968-1976 Military Regime
1976-1979 Military Regime & [De-Facto] One Party State (UDPM)
1979-1991 One Party State (UDPM)
1991-1992 Transitional Government & Multiparty Transition
1992-2012 Democracy
2012         Military Regime
2012-        Transitional Government
2012 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 2, Civil Liberties - 3, Status: Free [Note: The ratings reflect conditions in the country during 2011, prior to the 22 March 2012 military coup.]
Next Scheduled Presidential Election: N/A
Next Scheduled National Assembly Election: N/A
Political Parties: ADEMA - Alliance for Democracy in Mali (centrist), BARICA - Alternation Bloc for Renewal, Integration, and African Cooperation, BDIA - Bloc for Democracy and African Integration, CADDI - African Congress for Democracy, Development, and Integration, CDS - Democratic and Social Convention, CNID - National Congress for Democratic Initiative, COPP - Convention for Progress and the People, FAMA - African Front for Mobilization and Alternation, FNRSIT - National Front for Renewal and Safeguard of Territorial Integrity, MIRIA - Movement for Independence, Renewal, and African Integration, MPD - Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West Africa, MPR - Patriotic Movement for Renewal, PARENA - Party for National Renewal, PARI - African Party for Renewal and Integration, PARISA - Alliance Party for Renewal, Integration, and African Solidarity, PCR - Citizens' Party for Renewal, PDJ - Democracy and Justice Party, PDP - Party for Democracy and Progress, PDR - Party for Democracy and Renewal-Dounkafa Ton, PE - Ecological Party of Mali, PIDS - Party of Independence, Democracy, and Solidarity, PMPS - Malian Party for Social Progress, PPP - Popular Party for Progress, PRS - Sudanese Regrouping Party, PSP - Solidarity and Progress Party, PSP - Sudanese Progressive Party, PUDP - Party for Unity, Democracy, and Progress, RAMAT - Malian Rally for Labor, RDP - Rally for Democracy and Progress, RDT - Rally for Democracy and Labor, RND - National Rally for Democracy, RPM - Rally for Mali, SADI - African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence, UDD - Union for Democracy and Development, UDPM - Democratic Union of the Malian People, UFD - Union of Democratic Forces, UFDP - Union of Democratic Forces for Progress, UMDD - Malian Union for Democracy and Development, UNPR - National Union for Renewal, UPB - Union of the Populations of Bandiagara, US-RDA - Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally.
Coalitions: Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP) [Contested the 2007 Presidential and National Assembly Elections] A coalition of 43 political parties aligned with President Amadou Toumani Touré (an Independent). Major parties in the coalition include the Alliance for Democracy in Mali (ADEMA), Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD), Patriotic Movement for Renewal (MPR), and the National Congress for Democratic Initiative (CNID); Alliance for the Republic and Democracy (ARD) [Contested 2002 National Assembly Election] The Alliance for Democracy in Mali (ADEMA) is the main party in the coalition; Convergence for Alternation and Change (ACC) [Contested 2002 National Assembly Election] Member parties include the Bloc for Democracy and African Integration (BDIA), African Congress for Democracy, Development, and Integration (CADDI), African Front for Mobilization and Alternation (FAMA), Movement for Independence, Renewal, and African Integration (MIRIA), Party for National Renewal (PARENA), African party for Renewal and Integration (PARI), Alliance Party for Renewal, Integration, and African Solidarity (PARISA), Party for Democracy and Renewal-Dounkafa Ton (PDR), Ecological Party of Mali (PE), Malian Party for Social Progress (PMPS), Progress and Solidarity Party (PSP), Malian Rally for Labor (RAMAT), National Rally for Democracy (RND), Union of Democratic Forces (UFD), Union of Democratic Forces for Progress (UFDP), and the Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally (US-RDA); Front for Democracy and the Republic (FDR) [Contested the 2007 Presidential and National Assembly Elections] A coalition of 16 political parties and organizations. Major parties in the coalition include the Rally for Mali (RPM) and the Party for National Renewal (PARENA); Hope 2002 (Espoir 2002) Coalition [Contested 2002 National Assembly Election] Member parties include the Rally for Mali (RPM), National Congress for Democratic Initiative (CNID), Patriotic Movement for Renewal (MPR), and the Rally for Democracy and Labor (RDT).
 
Election Results
 
 
Presidential
--Single Party: 1979, 1985
--Multiparty: 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007
Legislative
--Single Party: 1964, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1988
--Multiparty: 1957, 1959, 1992, 1997 (April), 1997 (July), 2002, 2007
Referenda: 1958, 1974, 1992
Communal: 2004
 
 
31 March 1957 Territorial Assembly Election* [Detailed Results]

Registered Voters

2,089,842

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

   709,122 (33.9%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       7,476

Total Valid Votes

   701,646

Party Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (70)
Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally (US-RDA) 435,976 62.14% 57
Sudanese Progressive Party (PSP) 192,890 27.49% 6
Union of the Populations of Bandiagara (UPB) 44,052 6.28% 7
Others 28,728 4.09% -
*The Union of the Populations of Bandiagara (UPB) merged with the Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally (US-RDA) soon after the election, giving the US-RDA a total of 64 seats in the Territorial Assembly.
 
28 September 1958 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Approval of the constitution meant internal autonomy within the "French Community." France agreed to grant independence to any territory that rejected the proposed constitution.
Ballot Question: Do you approve the Constitution proposed by the Government of the Republic?

Registered Voters

2,142,266

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

   972,197 (45.4%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       2,736

Total Valid Votes

   969,461

Results Number of Votes % of Votes
"Yes" Votes 945,586 97.54%
"No" Votes 23,875 2.46%
 
8 March 1959 Legislative Assembly Election

Registered Voters

2,204,827

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

   709,032 (32.2%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       3,658

Total Valid Votes

   705,374

Party Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (80)
Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally (US-RDA) 534,946 75.84% 80
Sudanese Regrouping Party (PRS) 170,428 24.16% -
 
Single Party Elections
Sole Legal Party: Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally (US-RDA)
12 June 1964 National Assembly Election (80 Seats)

Registered Voters

2,425,696

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,156,896 (88.9%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       2,185

Total Valid Votes

2,154,711 (99.90%)

US-RDA

2,154,711 (100.00%)

Note: Following the withdrawal of Senegal from the Mali Federation in August 1960, Modibo Keïta became president of the Council of Government of the Sudanese Republic until 22 September 1960 when he was appointed President of Mali. He was re-elected President by the National Assembly on 13 May 1964.
 
02 June 1974 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Directly elected president, Presidential Term of 5-years, Unicameral Legislature, A Military Committee for National Liberation is to determine government policy for a span of 5 years.

Registered Voters

2,904,292

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,678,145 (92.2%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       3,625

Total Valid Votes

2,674,520

Results Number of Votes % of Votes
"Yes" Votes 2,665,531 99.66%
"No" Votes 8,989 0.34%
 
Single Party Elections
Sole Legal Party: Democratic Union of the Malian People (UDPM)
19 June 1979 Presidential Election (Moussa Traoré elected unopposed)

Registered Voters

3,397,250

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,302,251 (97.2%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       3,774

Total Valid Votes

3,298,477 (99.89%)

Moussa Traoré

3,298,477 (100.00%)

19 June 1979 National Assembly Election (82 Seats)

Registered Voters

3,283,985

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,185,258 (97.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

3,180,565 (99.85%)

UDPM

3,180,565 (100.00%)

13 June 1982 National Assembly Election (82 Seats)

Registered Voters

3,591,716

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

3,453,068 (96.1%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

       9,364

Total Valid Votes

3,443,704 (99.73%)

UDPM

3,437,505 (99.82%)

9 June 1985 Presidential Election (Moussa Traoré re-elected unopposed)

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

Not Available (99.94%)

Moussa Traoré

Not Available (100.00%)

9 June 1985 National Assembly Election (82 Seats)
26 June 1988 National Assembly Election (82 Seats)
 
12 January 1992 Constitutional Referendum
Main Points: Multiparty System, Division of Powers, Presidential term of 5 years

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Results

% of Votes*

"Yes" Votes

98.35%/99.76%

"No" Votes

01.65%/00.24%

*Conflicting results. Most sources provide one of the two percentages listed above as the final outcome of the referendum.
 
23 February & 8 March 1992 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

4,778,954

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,017,019 (21.3%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     75,175

Total Valid Votes

   941,844

Party

Number of Seats (116)

Alliance for Democracy in Mali (ADEMA)

76

National Congress for Democratic Initiative (CNID)

09

Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally (US-RDA)

08

Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West Africa (MPD)

06

Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP)

04

Union for Democracy and Development (UDD)

04

Rally for Democracy and Labor (RDT)

03

Union of Democratic Forces for Progress (UFDP)

03

Party for Democracy and Progress (PDP)

02

Malian Union for Democracy and Development (UMDD)

01

 
April 1992 Presidential Election
First Round (12 April 1992)

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (23.6%)

Second Round (26 April 1992)

Registered Voters

4,902,603

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,023,291 (20.9%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     18,835

Total Valid Votes

1,004,456

Candidate (Party) First Round Second Round
% of Votes Number of Votes % of Votes
Alpha Oumar Konaré (ADEMA) 44.95% 693,167 69.01%
Tiéoulé Mamadou Konaté (US-RDA) 14.51% 311,289 30.99%
Mountaga Tall (CNID) 11.41% - -
Almamy Sylla (RDP) 9.44% - -
Baba Akhib Haïdara (US-RDA) 7.37% - -
Idrissa Traoré (PDP) 4.10% - -
Amadou Ali Niangadou (RDT) 4.01% - -
Mamadou Maribatrou Diaby (PUDP) 2.16% - -
Demba Moussa Diallo (UFD)  2.04% - -
 
13 April 1997 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

5,035,938

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,687,191 (33.5%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     74,188

Total Valid Votes

1,613,003

The results of this election were cancelled by the Constitutional Court due to irregularities on 25 April 1997.
 
11 May 1997 Presidential Election*

Registered Voters

5,428,256

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,542,229 (28.4%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

   440,250

Total Valid Votes

1,101,979

Candidate (Party) Number of Votes % of Votes
Alpha Oumar Konaré (ADEMA) 1,056,819 95.90%
Mamadou Maribatrou Diaby (PUDP) 45,160 4.10%
*Boycotted by the main opposition parties.
 
30 July & 3 August 1997 National Assembly Election*

Registered Voters

5,254,299

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,133,769 (21.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     22,012

Total Valid Votes

1,111,757

Party Number of Seats (147)
Alliance for Democracy in Mali (ADEMA) 128
Party for National Renewal (PARENA) 8
Democratic and Social Convention (CDS) 4
Union for Democracy and Development (UDD) 2
Party for Democracy and Progress (PDP) 2
Convention for Progress and the People (COPP) 1
Democracy and Justice Party (PDJ) 1
National Rally for Democracy (RND) 1
*Boycotted by the following main opposition parties: National Congress for Democratic Initiative (CNID), Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally (US-RDA), Popular Movement for the Development of the Republic of West Africa (MPD), Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), Rally for Democracy and Labor (RDT), Union of Democratic Forces for Progress (UFDP), and the Malian Union for Democracy and Development (UMDD).
 
April/May 2002 Presidential Election
First Round (28 April 2002)

Registered Voters

5,746,202

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,201,154 (38.3%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

   636,378

Total Valid Votes

1,564,776

Second Round (12 May 2002)

Registered Voters

5,746,202

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,723,210 (30.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

   298,464

Total Valid Votes

1,424,746

Candidate (Party) First Round Second Round
Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Votes % of Votes
Amadou Toumani Touré 449,176 28.71% 926,243 65.01%
Soumaïla Cissé (ADEMA) 333,525 21.31% 498,503 34.99%
Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (RPM) 329,143 21.03% - -
Tiébilé Dramé (PARENA) 62,493 3.99% - -
Mountaga Tall (CNID) 58,695 3.75% - -
Moussa Balla Coulibaly (UDD) 50,211 3.21% - -
Choguel Kokalla Maïga (MPR) 42,469 2.71% - -
Mamadou Sangaré (CDS) 34,603 2.21% - -
Mandé Sidibé 31,359 2.01% - -
Ahmed El Madani Diallo 25,584 1.63% - -
Daba Diawara (PIDS) 17,156 1.10% - -
Oumar Mariko (SADI) 13,718 0.88% - -
Madiassa Maguiraga (PPP) 12,548 0.80% - -
Youssouf Hassan Diallo 12,455 0.80% - -
Modibo Sangaré (UNPR) 11,667 0.75% - -
Mamadou Gakou 11,505 0.74% - -
Mady Konaté (PDP) 11,302 0.72% - -
Modibo Kane Kida 9,722 0.62% - -
Mamadou Maribatrou Diaby 9,101 0.57% - -
Almamy Sylla (RDP) 8,851 0.57% - -
Habibou Dembélé 7,964 0.51% - -
Sanoussi Nanacassé 7,829 0.50% - -
Ibrahim Diakité (FNRSIT) 6,899 0.44% - -
Abdoulaye Sogolomba Konaté 6,771 0.43% - -
 
14 & 28 July 2002 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

5,249,571

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

1,205,238 (23.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

     18,849

Total Valid Votes

1,186,389

Party/[Coalition] Number of Seats (147)
Hope 2002 Coalition [Espoir 2002] 66

Rally for Mali (RPM)
46
National Congress for Democratic Initiative (CNID) 13
Patriotic Movement for Renewal (MPR) 5
Rally for Democracy and Labor (RDT) 1
Other 1
Alliance for the Republic and Democracy [ARD] 51

Alliance for Democracy in Mali (ADEMA)
45
Others 6
Convergence for Alternation and Change [ACC] 10
African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence (SADI) 6
Independents 6
Vacant** 8
*In addition, Malians living abroad were represented by 13 legislators selected in separate polling.
**By-elections for the eight vacant seats took place on 20 October 2002. All were won by the Alliance for Democracy in Mali (ADEMA), raising its total to 53 and increasing the Alliance for the Republic and Democracy (ARD) coalition's representation to 59.
 
29 April 2007 Presidential Election

Registered Voters

6,884,352

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,494,846 (36.2%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

   229,363

Total Valid Votes

2,265,483

Candidate (Party) [Coalition] Number of Votes % of Votes
Amadou Toumani Touré [ADP] 1,612,912 71.20%
Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (RPM) [FDR] 433,897 19.15%
Tiébilé Dramé (PARENA) [FDR] 68,956 3.04%
Oumar Mariko (SADI) 61,670 2.72%
Mamadou Sangaré (CDS) [FDR] 35,776 1.58%
Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga [FDR] 32,973 1.46%
Sidibé Aminata Diallo (REDD) 12,443 0.55%
Madiassa Maguiraga (PPP) 6,856 0.30%
 
1 & 22 July 2007 National Assembly Election

Registered Voters

6,267,373

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

2,092,738 (33.9%)

Party/[Coalition] Number of Seats (147)
Alliance for Democracy and Progress [ADP] 113

Alliance for Democracy in Mali (ADEMA)
51
Union for the Republic and Democracy (URD) 34
Patriotic Movement for Renewal (MPR) 8
National Congress for Democratic Initiative (CNID) 7
Union for Democracy and Development (UDD) 3
Alternation Bloc for Renewal, Integration, and African Cooperation (BARICA) 2
Solidarity and Progress Party (PSP) 2
Movement for Independence, Renewal, and African Integration (MIRIA) 2
Bloc for Democracy and African Integration (BDIA) 1
National Rally for Democracy (RND) 1
Citizens' Party for Renewal (PCR) 1
Sudanese Union-African Democratic Rally (US-RDA) 1
Front for Democracy and the Republic [FDR] 15

Rally for Mali (RPM)
11
Party for National Renewal (PARENA) 4
African Solidarity for Democracy and Independence (SADI) 4
Independents 15