Mali: On Sunday, Mali voters went to the polls to cast ballots on a new draught constitution that the military leadership of the West African nation claims is a step towards elections for a return to civilian rule in 2024.

According to Mali's interim president Colonel Assimi Goita, the proposed draught constitution would "provide for a better-organized executive power, while maintaining the necessary balance with the legislative power," in a speech that was aired on state television on Saturday.

Currently, military officers in Mali are in charge after a coup there in 2020. Nine months later, a second coup took place, further removing the African country's interim civilian government from power.

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A two-chamber parliamentary system with an additional Senate in addition to the current National Assembly would be established under the parameters of the proposed constitution. Additionally, it would give the presidency of Mali more legislative authority; this proposal has sparked political debate in Bamako due to claims that it would give the president too much power.

Goita has yet to declare whether or not he plans to run for president.

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Since 1992, the country has had the current constitution, which states that "the government determines and conducts the policy of the nation." The proposed new constitution would require Mali's government to "conduct the policy of the nation determined by the president."

The military junta's detractors have urged Malians to reject the proposed constitution. In a speech on Friday, Imam Mahmoud Dicko, a former junta supporter who is now its leading critic, warned supporters that the concepts of "justice, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law" are being attacked in the nation of West Africa.

What sort of democracy are we discussing here? In comments that were published by the Independent on Sunday, he questioned. "What kind of rule of law exists in a nation where the military uses justice to suppress its citizens?"

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Mali is still engaged in a conflict with an Islamist insurgency that has plagued the nation for the majority of the last ten years. Due to the conflict, the 21 million-person nation can expect a low voter turnout. Results are anticipated 72 hours after the start of voting, which started at 7 a.m. local time. The next set of presidential elections are set for February.