(4 minutes read)
· Sixty years since independence, Mali, once again, stands at crossroads with a transition government in place installed by the military junta
· Many would have liked a politician to head the transition government because Mali has been a democratic country for the last 25 years or so and wanted to have the continuity of democracy, which a politician would be more capable of doing
· Some others feel that interim president Bah N’Daw is a good choice since he combines in himself attributes of disciplined soldier and a politician having been the ex-minister of defense.
Sixty years since independence, Mali, once again, stands at crossroads with a transition government in place installed by the military junta. The former defense minister and retired Col. Maj. Bah N’Daw will be the president during the transition period.
Common man reacts to the situation differently. Many would have liked a politician to head the transition government because Mali has been a democratic country for the last 25 years or so and wanted to have the continuity of democracy, which a politician would be more capable of doing. They sincerely feel that the transition would have been smooth and less problematic in that case
There are differing views also. Some others feel that Interim president Bah N’Daw is a good choice since he combines in himself attributes of a disciplined soldier and a politician having been the ex-minister of defense. He was appointed by a 30-person panel set up by the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), the junta that has ruled Mali since soldiers overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in Aug. 18.
The incumbent is expected to serve as head of state for several months before civilians return to power in the west African country. The swearing-in ceremony for the new transition government which has Head of the Junta chief Col. Assimi Goïta as vice president, will take place on Friday, September 25. Now at least the Russia trained Interim President has the support. Will he command that respect and support as the transition trail keeps moving, when the incumbent is expected to take hard decisions. The other question being asked is whether he would be able to drive the country from the front seat or play a subordinate role to the junta, whose leader has assumed the office of the Vice President.
