Ba N’Daou, Mali’s ex-defence minister, appointed as interim president

Ba N’Daou, Mali’s former defence minister, has been named as president of the country’s new transitional government.

Assimi Goita, the head of Mali junta who broke the news on Monday, was appointed as the vice-president.

The transitional government will be inaugurated on Friday.

N’Daou and Goita were appointed by a group of 17 electors chosen by the junta to oversee an 18-month transition that will culminate in fresh elections.

The transitional government is meant to lead the country for several months before staging elections and returning Mali to civilian rule.

The military junta had come under 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.

ECOWAS imposed sanctions on Mali after the coup.

During previous negotiations, the junta had asked to stay in power for three years but ECOWAS said it would only allow an interim government, headed by a civilian or retired military officer, to last for six months or a maximum of a year.

ECOWAS later called for the appointment of a civilian president and prime minister for a transitional period by September 23, threatening to impose a full embargo on Mali.

This was after Goita went to Accra on Tuesday with a delegation to explain to ECOWAS the conclusions of the national consultations held from September 10 to 12, and to discuss the lifting of sanctions on Mali.

But the two sides did not reach any agreement regarding the issue of power transition then.

However, after negotiations with political leaders and representatives of civil society, Mali’s military finally approved “the basic law and roadmap for the transition period’’ in the country.