‘I AM PRESIDENT’
…Mali junta leader declares himself president
BAMAKO - The head of the former junta in Mali, Colonel Assimi Goïta, has declared himself the country's transitional president, after stripping the country's interim president and former prime minister of their powers.
President Bah Ndaw and the Prime Minister Moctar Ouane have now been released from military detention.
Ndaw and Ouane were freed at around 01:00 yesterday after being held at a military camp since Monday.
They were taken to a military base late on Monday in what was seen as Mali's second military coup in nine months.
The move followed a cabinet reshuffle in which two army officers involved in the previous coup lost their jobs.
Col Goïta complained that the ex-president had failed to consult him about the new cabinet.
The situation in Mali today is said to be tense but calm.
Meanwhile, the US State Department has said it will halt its security assistance to Mali following the latest political developments which saw the departure of two civilian leaders.
"We are now suspending all security assistance that benefits the Malian security and defence forces that we had continued previously pursuant to available authorities," a statement from the department said.
"The United States will also consider targeted measures against political and military leaders who impede Mali’s civilian-led transition to democratic governance," it added.
However, the US said it would continue supporting efforts by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) and the African Union in working to resolve the current crisis.
It also stated that a democratic, civilian-led government presented the best opportunity to achieve security and prosperity in Mali and the wider Sahel region.
The US reaction comes in the wake of a jihadist insurgency in the Sahel countries that is threatening to spread to the rest of West Africa.
Mali's military forces seem to be more focused in the country's politics, instead of tackling the volatile security situation. – BBC.