In Mali, thousands of people took to streets today to protest against a planned referendum on constitutional changes that would give extra powers to President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to create new regions and recognise the Tuareg's ethnic homeland.<br/>'<br/>Mali's government has delayed the vote, which was originally planned for last week, but still plans to go ahead with it this year. Activists are unsettled by provisions that would enable the president to nominate a quarter of the Senate and remove the prime minister at will.<br/><br/>Protester and local councillor Sonore Sidibe said at the march in Bamako, "We don't need a revised constitution. We need the state to liberate the north and center of Mali and to take account of people's aspirations." <br/><br/>The constitutional changes concerning new regions are supposed to happen as part of a 2015 peace deal aiming to end the separatist Tuareg movement. <br/><br/>Presidential elections are scheduled for late 2018, although President Keita has not said whether or not he will run.<br/>