Mali’s designated interim president makes first appearance

Mali’s designated interim president, retired colonel Bah Ndaw, has reportedly made his first public appearance in a meeting with a regional mediator.

Ndaw, 70, met former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in Bamako on Thursday on a mission for the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on the eve of his swearing-in.

Ndaw’s appointment was announced on Monday by Colonel Assimi Goita, who heads a military government of young military officers who seized power on August 18, overthrowing elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Goita will serve as vice president. The interim president will rule for a maximum of 18 months before staging nationwide elections.

ECOWAS slapped sanctions on Mali on August 20 to push for the swift restoration of a civilian government, including the appointment of civilians as interim president and prime minister.

Jonathan said the bloc may announce on Friday whether the plan meets criteria for easing sanctions.

The former Nigerian president and his delegation met Goita, Ndaw and other officers in military uniform on Thursday, the AFP news agency reported.

The easing of sanctions would be a relief for Mali, whose imports have slumped 30 percent since its neighbours closed borders and halted financial flows after Keita was overthrown.

Mali’s neighbours have taken a hard line with the military government, fearful the fragile nation of some 19 million people could spiral into chaos.

Swaths of the vast country already lie outside of government control due to a lethal armed uprising that first emerged in 2012 and has also inflamed ethnic tensions.

Current restrictions include border closures and a ban on commercial trade and financial flows but not on basic necessities, drugs, and equipment to fight the novel coronavirus, fuel or electricity.