Our website use cookies to improve and personalize your experience and to display advertisements (if any). Our website may also include cookies from third parties like Google Adsense, Google Analytics, and Youtube. By using the website, you consent to the use of cookies.

Former colonel Ndaw named interim Mali president, junta leader VP

Former colonel Ndaw named interim Mali president, junta leader VP

FORMER Mali defence minister and retired colonel Bah Ndaw was named interim president, while the leader of the junta that seized power last month, Colonel Assimi Goita, was appointed vice president, Goita said in a statement. Mali's ruling junta has come under intense pressure from leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to return power to civilians following the August  18 coup that overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. It was unclear whether the arrangement would satisfy ECOWAS, which last week threatened to step up economic sanctions and impose a total embargo on landlocked Mali if its conditions…
Read More
Mali negotiators back charter that could see soldier as interim president

Mali negotiators back charter that could see soldier as interim president

PAUL LORGERIE and TIEMOKO DIALLO  MALI’S ruling junta pushed through a political charter on Saturday that could lead to the appointment of a soldier as interim president despite objections from the coalition that led anti-government protests before last month's coup. Approval for the roadmap, meant to chart the country's course after the August 18 coup that toppled President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, came after three days of negotiations between the junta, political leaders and civil society groups. International powers, fearful that political instability will undermine a fight against Islamist militants across West Africa's Sahel region, have pushed for a swift transition…
Read More
Mali junta frees ousted president Keita ahead of regional summit

Mali junta frees ousted president Keita ahead of regional summit

TIEMOKO DIALLO and DAVID LEWIS  COUP leaders in Mali have released President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and he has returned home, his representative said on Thursday, a potential sign of good faith a day ahead of a regional summit on the country's political future. A group of military officers has controlled Mali since Aug. 18, when they detained Keita at gunpoint and forced him to resign in a takeover foreign powers fear could further destabilise the West African nation and undermine a fight against Islamist militants in the wider Sahel region. Keita's release, nine days after he was ousted and detained,…
Read More
Some agreement, but issues remain as West African mediators meet Mali coup leaders

Some agreement, but issues remain as West African mediators meet Mali coup leaders

TIEMOKO DIALLO MEDIATORS from West Africa's regional bloc reached agreement on certain points in talks with Mali's military junta that are aimed at returning the country to civilian rule, the parties said on Sunday, adding that some outstanding issues remained. The negotiations continue today, members of both delegations told journalists in Bamako. Leaders of the military junta led by Colonel Assimi Goita and mediators from West Africa's regional bloc led by Nigeria's former president, Goodluck Jonathan, met behind closed doors all day on Sunday. "We have been able to agree on a number of points but not yet on all…
Read More