(4 minutes read)
· Colonel Bah Ndaw, the defense minister under Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was overthrown as the president, was sworn in as the Interim President at a function held at capital Bamako
· Jihadist insurgency in the centre and north, a falling economy, the coronavirus pandemic and huge political polarization are the major challenges being faced by the Mali
· These are also the first priorities for the new government to address. Colonel Assimi Goita, who led the coup against Keita will serve as Ndaw’s deputy
Colonel Bah Ndaw, the defense minister under Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was overthrown as the president, was sworn in as the Interim President at a function held at capital Bamako. In his speech, the retired army Colonel pledged to end a militant insurgency in the country’s north and to stop organized crime. These were the major reasons for the military junta to seize the power from Keita, who could not make any dent in controlling the Jihadis operating from these regions and in controlling corruption.
Jihadist insurgency in the centre and north, a falling economy, the coronavirus pandemic and huge political polarization are the major challenges being faced by the Mali. These are also the first priorities for the new government to address. Colonel Assimi Goita, who led the coup against Keita will serve as Ndaw’s deputy.
Significantly, still there is no communication from the ECOWAS leaders when the sanctions imposed on Mali immediately after the coup would be lifted and the borders would be reopened. The sanctions are creating untold miseries to the citizens of the country, who are mostly poor and deprived. There is pressure on ECOWAS now to lift the sanctions on Mali since a new interim government has sworn in. It is possible that the West African leadership may wait for a few more days before lifting the sanctions.
