Rtd Col Ndaw is the new interim president
By AFP
Former Mali defence minister and retired colonel Bah Ndaw was named interim president on Monday while the leader of the junta that seized power last month, Colonel Assimi Goita, was appointed vice president, Goita said in a statement.
The transitional government is supposed to bring about a return to democracy more than a month after a coup d’etat.
The move is likely to be immediately rejected by the international community, which has called on Mali’s junta to restore civilian rule as soon as possible or face additional sanctions.
Col. Assimi Goita made the announcement himself on Mali’s state television, ORTM, saying he had been chosen as vice president.
Col Goita, the vice president He said that retired Maj. Col. Bah N’Daw has been named president of the transitional government, which is to be inaugurated on Sept. 25.
Ndaw 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 college set up for the designation of the personalities to lead the transition, after deliberation appointed: Mr. Bah NDAW, President of the transition; Colonel Assimi GOITA, Vice president,” the statement said.
They will be sworn in on Friday, Goita said in brief remarks on state television.
