(3 minutes read)
· In a significant development, Mali’s transitional president and prime minister have resigned after they were arrested on Monday by the military. Many term this as a second coup in nine months
· Baba Cissé, the international mediation mission currently in Mali who also doubles up as a special adviser to Colonel Assimi Goïta said that President Bah Ndaw and his Prime Minister Moctar Ouane have resigned before the arbitrator. He also revealed that negotiations were underway for their release and the formation of a new government
· Behind the scenes, some backroom diplomacy is being played out. An ECOWAS delegation visited the military garrison in Kati yesterday (Wednesday) to meet the two leaders who have been held there since their arrest
In a significant development, Mali’s transitional president and prime minister have resigned after they were arrested on Monday by the military. Many term this as a second coup in nine months.
Baba Cissé, the international mediation mission currently in Mali who also doubles up as a special adviser to Colonel Assimi Goïta said that President Bah Ndaw and his Prime Minister Moctar Ouane have resigned before the arbitrator. He also revealed that negotiations were underway for their release and the formation of a new government.
Behind the scenes, some backroom diplomacy is being played out. An ECOWAS delegation visited the military garrison in Kati yesterday (Wednesday) to meet the two leaders who have been held there since their arrest. In the meantime, as reported by www.trendsnafrica.com yesterday Colonel Goita, who holds the rank of vice president in the transitional government, accused Ndaw and Ouane of failing to consult him on the reshuffle, which he said was a violation of agreed protocol. He pointed to this attitude as a demonstrable intent to sabotage the transition. However, the other view is that the
transitional document was by and large drawn by military officials, which the civilian transitional government feels would underpin the democratic process.
The recent reshuffle, the epicenter of controversy, came amid signs of discontent among the public, which had initially hailed the army for bringing down Keita. However, the opposition M5 movement urged dissolving the interim government and demanded a “more legitimate” body.
Tunisia’s revenues from tourism is down by over 60% hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, the North African country has witnessed a surge in coronavirus cases after reopening its borders to tour agencies in late April.
The tourists are trickling in mainly from Russia and eastern Europe, this past month to its airport at Enfidha airport. Around 10 flights a week are arriving and the North African country is hoping to revive its tourism sector in the coming days. Turkey closed its borders and tourists are keeping Tunisia as an alternative. There are also travelers from the Czech Republic and Poland. Customers from eastern Europe are less concerned about the pandemic. Tourists arriving in tour groups are only required to show a negative PCR test to get entry to Tunisia.
