MINISTER KONE REVISES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAMAKO 001348

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2016
TAGS: PREL PINR PINS PGOV ML
SUBJECT: MINISTER KONE REVISES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DATE
AND PONDERS RETIREMENT

REF: A. BAMAKO 01113

B. BAMAKO 01237

Classified By: Political Officer Aaron Sampson for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d)

1.(C) Summary: The Ministry of Territorial Administration
revised the 2007 presidential election date after realizing
that the previously announced date of April 15 did not meet
constitutional requirements. The first round is now
scheduled for Sunday, April 29. A second round of voting
will occur on May 12 if necessary. The first round of
legislative elections follow on July 1 with a second round on
July 22. On November 15 a European adviser detailed to
assist Mali with election planning told the Embassy that
Minister of Territorial Administration, General Kafougouna
Kone, had rebuffed informal efforts to draft him as a
presidential candidate should the candidacy of President
Amadou Toumani Toure (ATT) suddenly falter. Kone reportedly
said he was not interested in the presidency and remains
loyal to ATT. End Summary.

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Election Dates Revised
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2.(U) The GOM revised the date of the 2007 presidential
election after noticing that the original date of April 15
was two weeks earlier than permitted by the Malian
constitution; the first round of voting will now occur on
Sunday, April 29. If necessary, a second round will be held
on May 12. It appears that the original decision to schedule
the election for April 15 was simply an error originating
with the Council of Ministers. Round one of the 2007
legislative elections is now scheduled for July 1 and round
two is set for July 22.

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Ballot Questions and General Kone
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3.(C) General Wilfred Wesch (retired),an elections expert
detailed by the German government to assist the Ministry of
Territorial Administration with the 2007 elections, told the
Embassy on November 15 that Minister Kone, who remains an
active Military General, had pledged to stay on as Minister
of Territorial Administration through the end of the
electoral cycle to manage any "problems" that may occur.
Kone has reached (or is about to reach) Mali's mandatory
retirement age of 62 and is rumored to be ready to retire
both from the government and the military.

4.(C) When asked what sort of "problems" Kone envisioned,
Wesch said Kone recently shared with him that several
individuals had approached Kone to suggest drafting him for
president should the candidacy of ATT suddenly falter during
the final months of the presidential campaign. Wesch said
Kone described ATT's presidency as largely successful, but
that Malians were generally unhappy with the direction of the
country. Kone apparently told Wesch that he had no interest
in running for president and would retire after seeing the
presidential and legislative elections through.

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Comment
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5.(C) Others in Bamako have also spoken to the Embassy of a
possible movement to draft Kone to replace ATT. Kone is one
of the only GOM officials who has managed to keep his uniform
clean from allegations of malfeasance throughout several
decades of acclaimed military and political service (ref B).
He also maintains the respect of the Malian military and
security forces, despite serving as ATT's front man for the
controversial negotiations with the Tuareg rebels in Kidal.
In charge of administering the elections and managing the
Algiers Accords process with the Tuaregs, Kone has emerged as
one of the most powerful officials in Mali. If Kone were
considering a presidential bid, he would be required by the
constitution to resign from active military service - or
reach the mandatory retirement age of 62 - this month. The
Embassy has seen no indications that Kone harbors any
presidential ambitions.
McCulley