Mali (MNN) — Mali’s military leaders have delayed a presidential election slated for February 2024, citing “technical” reasons. Critics fear the move will draw sanctions from West Africa’s regional bloc.
This is the second time Mali’s junta – which emerged from two coups in 2020 – postponed the election. A 2024 vote was supposed to signal Mali’s return to democratic rule.
World Mission’s Greg Kelley says, “For generations, what’s been modeled is poor leadership. The military delaying elections is a further example [of poor leadership].”
Child in Mali. (Photo courtesy of Jordan McGee/Unsplash)
The people of Mali have endured three years of bickering between the military leaders who control the government and armed tribal groups looking to unseat them. Last week, one of the armed groups called for an all-out war against the junta.
Kelley says, “Until someone steps up and leads with credibility and integrity, this cycle [is] just going to continue in this part of Africa.”
Pray alongside indigenous church planters who are asking God for peace. Kelley says, “Whether it’s the military running it (the country) or a democratic election, the presence of stability perpetuates the Gospel.”
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“So many of these areas have people who are oral learners, they prefer to learn in a non-literate way, so we distribute solar-powered audio Bibles. Jesus has called us to make disciples. It’s very difficult to make a disciple in the absence of the Word of God,” Kelley says.
“They’ve never had access to the Gospel. No one’s ever gone there. We have indigenous church planters on the ground in both Mali and Niger sharing the Gospel.”
Finally, pray for the people of Mali to place their trust ultimately in the Lord.
Header photo courtesy of David Perterson/Pixabay.
