Mali’s coup leader wins backing to be President

Blitz Bureau

BAMAKO: Mali’s military leader Gen Assimi Goïta has won the backing of key political allies to be declared President for the next five years, reported BBC. The 41-year-old, who has seized power twice, was named transitional President after his last coup in 2021.

At the time he promised to hold elections the following year – but has since reneged, in a blow to efforts to restore multi-party rule in the West African state.

A national conference organised by the regime – but boycotted by leading Opposition parties – has now recommended naming Gen Goïta President until 2030. He has not yet commented on the recommendation, but the conference was seen as an attempt to legitimise his bid to remain in power. Over the weekend, an Opposition leader Mohamed Salia Touré told the AFP news agency that suppressing the multi-party system would be a “historic error”. The conference also recommended suspending anything to do with elections until there was peace in the country, according to a document seen by AFP.

The military Government has been trying to quell jihadist violence unleashed by groups linked with the Islamic State and al-Qaeda.

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