Mali ‘s leader in protest backs civilian ‘rare bird’ to lead the transition

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 08:25 am

Influential Mali cleric Imam Mahmoud Dicko urged the military junta on Wednesday to comply with demands from West African leaders to name a civilian president and high minister by using September 15 to ease sanctions imposed after last month’s coup.

On Saturday the junta began talks with Mali’s political parties and civil society corporations over a transition to civilian rule. The go was once welcomed with the aid of the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), but it stored sanctions in place.

Dicko, a Salafist preacher who until now this 12 months electrified protesters at some point of anti-government demonstrations, told the nation broadcaster late on Wednesday that Mali needed assistance and that it had nothing to gain by way of going at the back of the back of the global community.

“If the global community, consisting of ECOWAS, now thinks that the presidency of this transition must be given to civilians, let’s provide it to civilians,” Dicko said, ruling himself out of the running.

“Mali is full of executives, guys of integrity, let’s locate this rare bird.”

On August 18, mutinying troopers arrest President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse after taking over a military camp near Bamako. One day later, the president resigned and dissolved parliament.

Keïta received a second time period in elections in 2018, however there has been anger over corruption, electoral malpractice and the mismanagement of the economy. It has brought about quite a few massive protests in current months.

The army takeover was welcomed by using many Malians and opposition groups also voiced guide for the coup, however the honeymoon regarded to be over last week when the opposition coalition, of which Dicko is a senior figure, sharply criticized the junta after it wasn’t invited to preliminary consultations about the transition.

(CGTN)