Mali must quickly prepare its plan for elections to replace the transitional government put in place after the August coup, ECOWAS has said.
An Ecowas delegation, which has just finished a two-day mission to Mali, urged all parties to engage in more dialogue so as to “guarantee peace and stability in the country”.
News Central reports that elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was deposed in a coup on August 18. With economic sanctions from ECOWAS, AU and other organisations, the coup leaders announced a new government with some of the top posts going to military officials.
The ministries of defence, territorial administration, security and national reconciliation are headed by military personnel, as Mali begins an 18-month transition back to civilian rule.
Retired colonel Bah Ndaw was named as interim president and colonel Assimi Goita, who led the coup, as vice president. Veteran diplomat Moctar Ouane was named interim prime minister.
When the transitional government was set up five weeks after the takeover its role was to prepare the country for the return to civilian rule within 18 months – and as a consequence, Ecowas lifted sanctions imposed in the aftermath of the coup.
The delegation also commented on a recent alleged attempt to destabilise the transition, which has led to the arrests of several civilians.
It urged the authorities to ensure their cases were dealt with fairly under the law.
The mission will report on its visit and make recommendations to the region’s heads of state at a summit in a few weeks.