Mali junta boss to influence naming of transitional MPs

BAMAKO - Mali’s interim government published plans for a legislative body on Tuesday, vesting significant power in the hands of the leader of the August coup, Colonel Assimi Goita.

Young army officers in the conflictridden Sahel state toppled president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on August 18 after weeks of anti-government protests.

Under the threat of international sanctions, the officers between September and October handed power to an interim government, which is meant rule for 18 months before staging elections.

Civilian Bah Ndaw is serving as interim president, while junta head Goita is his vice president.

As part of plans to transition to civilian rule, the interim government is also meant to appoint a 121-seat legislative body.

For the first time, on Tuesday, the government issued two decrees detailing how it intends to distribute seats. Members of the defence and security forces will receive 22, while political parties will receive 11, and the so-called June 5 Movement will receive eight.

The movement is an alliance of political parties, trade unions, religious figures and NGOs which was at the forefront of this year’s anti-Keita protests.

Former rebel groups, trade unions and civil society organisations will also receive seats.

However one of the decrees stipulates that coup leader Goita must sign off on any appointment, apparently strengthening army control even after heavy pressure from Mali’s neighbours to cede power to civilians.

As interim vice president, Goita is in charge of security issues in a country which has been struggling to quell a brutal jihadist insurgency since 2012.

Anger over the seemingly endless conflict, as well as over perceived corruption, contributed to the protests which culminated in Keita’s ouster.