ESARP

Prime Minister Modibo Sidibe praised the democratizing impact of the CMDID programme and commended its capacity to promote wider cooperation between political parties.

The visiting delegation, made up of members of the executive committee and board of directors of CMDID, is making a series of visits to key institutions and political stake-holders to build buy-in and support for the centre's work.

Welcoming the delegation Prime Minister Modibo Sidibé spoke of his high regard for the various programmes for democracy consolidation which CMDID has run in Mali.

CMDID achievements 

CMDID Executive Director Mr. Augustine Cisse, in his remarks gave an overview of some of the key activities and achievements of the NIMD-supported CMDID programme in Mali: 

CMDID organized training in institutional capacity for parties and facilitated strategic planning by the parties to strengthen their own institutional and democratic capacities.

The centre also organized sessions on policy issues in which the parties forged dialogue between themselves around themes they commonly identified as important. This led to spin-off projects which the participants designed according to their own needs and preferences. Another direct result of this inter-party dialogue was a series animated televised debates. 

At the local level initiatives to close the gap in communication and perception between the public and the political parties were organised.

CMDID regularly brings together different political actors to address systemic and institutional challenges in a spirit of pro-active cooperation.

Beyond political cleavages

In his address Prime Minister Modibo Sidibé offered appreciation and encouragement to the CMDID which he sees as a means of consolidating democracy in Mali. Referring to a chasm that exists between the political parties and the general public the Prime Minister said CMDID could help the parties find ways to bridge that gap. "The political parties are very important but especially in their relations with the populations" he said.

There are many internal challenges facing the parties around which CMDID continues to make transformative contribution the Prime Minster said.  And there are wider challenges within the political system which could be better mitigated or even overcome using CMDID's partnership and dialogue-rich approach.

The Prime Minister also singled out the non-partisan nature of the centre's work which, he said "cuts beyond political cleavages" and leaves "the doors open for all to avail of an array of critical support."

Support for all

Concluding his remarks the Prime Minister said he could only "support such an initiative which is so important in the eyes of the President of the Republic and which values above all else the well-being of Malian democracy"

CMDID was established in August 2007 as a means of institutionalizing the platform for dialogue and exchange between political actors which NIMD had invited to come together. The centre addresses issues in a non-partisan spirit and proposes contributions to the consolidation and promotion of democracy in Mali

• View this story on the website of the Government of the Republic of Mali - in French.