Mali’s transitional government on Friday announced a new cabinet with military officers receiving the key ministries of defence, security and national reconciliation, reported Africa News.
According to an announcement made on national television on Friday, Colonel Sadio Camara, one of the leaders of the August 2020 coup that ousted former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, had been restored as defense minister. Colonel Major Ismael Wague remains the Minister of National Reconciliation.
Colonel Daoud Aly Mohammedine takes over as the security minister and Lieutenant Colonel Abdoulaye Maïga is now the head of Territorial administration. A man named Modibo Kone was appointed as the environment minister. Former security minister, Colonel Modibo Kone, was not included in the new government.
Colonel Assimi Goita, who was vice president under the previous transitional government, was sworn in as Mali’s interim president on Monday. Goita orchestrated another coup in May that removed interim President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane.
Earlier this week, the Mali president appointed a civilian prime minister, Choguel Kokalla Maiga, in keeping with international demands. Maiga is a key leader of the Movement of 5-June / Rally of Patriotic Forces (M5-RFP, a collective of opponents of religious and civil society).
He assured that the elections would be held next year as planned and promised that the return to civilian power would take place at the beginning of 2022.
Notably, the second coup in nine months sparked diplomatic uproar, with the African Union and the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspending Mali’s membership in response.
France, which has thousands of troops deployed in the war-torn country, also suspended military cooperation with Mali.
On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to stop his country’s 5,100-strong military operation battling armed groups across West Africa’s Sahel region.
The appointment of the new transitional government is expected to ease Mali’s tensions with its international partners.
