Col Assimi Goïta, the leader of Mali’s junta, was officially sworn in Monday as the country’s interim president and promised “credible, fair and transparent elections”. These are expected in February next year, AFP reports.
Two weeks ago he had removed the transitional president and prime minister in a coup – the second he’d engineered in nine months.
The inauguration ceremony in the capital, Bamako, came as events in Mali have drawn condemnation from its Ecowas neighbours and the African Union – both of whom suspended Mali’s membership.
France has also temporarily suspended its joint military operations with the Malian military.
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is returning to Mali this week to continue mediations on behalf of ECOWAS.
