(5 minutes read)
· Ba N’Daou, Ex-Minister of Defense, as the Malian transitional president.
· Colonel Assimi Goïta, junta head has been designated transitional vice-president
Head of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (NCSP), Colonel Assimi Goïta, in a nationally televised announcement said that Ba N’Daou, previously the Minister of Defense, as the Malian transitional president. He was appointed by a committee set up by the junta in power since ousting ex-president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on August 18th.
The new president is expected to serve as head of state till the return of elected civilian government. No time limit is set for his continuation of power.
Colonel Assimi Goïta has been designated transitional vice-president. The ceremony to swear in both officials is scheduled for Friday, September 25. There were weeks-long protests in Mali over civilian or military rule. The pressure from the Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for a swift transition to civilian power, it appears, seems to have worked at least in paper.
The NCSP had promised to honor all international agreements on fighting Islamist extremist jihadists committing violent acts of terrorism in the region. This move is welcomed by the Malian people. People had staged a 3-month protest for Keita’s resignation as they denounced the government for corruption, severely impaired the economy and continuing threats from Jihadis.
Presidential elections will eventually be held after the transition. The junta has set for 18 months for the civilian election. This is six months longer than what ECOWAS leaders had repeatedly told to keep the transition for a maximum one year to lift the already imposed sanctions. The M5 opposition movement, which spearheaded the ouster movement of the Keita had rejected the charter of the junta.
