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Against a backdrop of lingering humanitarian crisis affecting both IDPs in the south and those returning to the north, long-awaited presidential elections in Mali took place in generally satisfying conditions on 28 July and 12 August. They represent an important milestone in a country devastated by 18 months of political, security and food crises which caused the displacement of around 350,000 inside Mali and over 500,000 people total.
While voter turnout was higher than in previous such elections, IDPs’ ability to participate in the voting was far from guaranteed. Because most IDPs remain registered to vote in their areas of origin in the north, their voter cards were in many cases sent to areas they no longer occupy.
According to the NRC office in Bamako, IDPs could have their cards sent to their places of displacement through local administrative commissions. However, many IDPs were prevented from doing so due to a lack of information coupled with a tight deadline on 27 June.
Some IDPs who did not manage to get their cards transferred in time collectively sent a family member to return home and collect all the cards, despite the cost of the trip and on-going security risks. A week before the first round of elections, the number of IDPs possessing voter cards was unknown.
While IDPs still lack access to basic needs and livelihoods in the south, the economic situation is at a standstill in the north, where social services and state administration are slow to return.
For more information, visit IDMC’s page on Mali