VZCZCXRO7684
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHBP #1348 3281149
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 241149Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6511
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

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. 
 
---------------------- 
Election Dates Revised 
---------------------- 
 
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. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Ballot Questions and General Kone 
--------------------------------- 
 
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. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
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