Deepali Kalia –
Colonel Assimi Goita, leader of the post-coup junta on May 28 was named as the country’s transitional president by Mali’s Constitutional court.
The ruling laid out that Goita would, “Exercise the functions of transitional president to lead the transition process to its conclusion”.
The Constitutional court stated that it had arrived at the decision due to the vacancy in the presidency.
President Bah N’Daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane had resigned while in military detention on May 26 following their dismissal by Goita on May 25 for apparently appointing a new government without consulting him.
The United Nations Security Council following an emergency meeting on Mali on May 26 had said that, “A change of transitional leadership, including by forced resignations, is unacceptable.” and had demanded that the detained transitional leaders be immediately released.
French President Emmanuel Macron had described the actions of the Junta as a “Coup within a coup” and United States on May 26 had also announced that it was suspending security cooperation with Mali’s military.
The soldiers had detained the transitional leaders on May 24 and following their resignations had released them on May 27.
Young army officers lead by Goita had toppled the then Mali’s elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita by force following huge protests over his alleged corruption and his failure at containing the bloody Jihadists insurgency.
N’Daw and Ouane were leading a transitional government tasked with navigating the return to civilian rule after the coup.
The newly named transitional president stated that, “In the coming days, the prime minister who will be appointed will carry out a broad consultation between the different factions.”