Pascal Arogorn Ibe
The junta that seized power in Mali wants a
military – led transitional body to rule for
three years and has agreed to release ousted
president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita , a source
in a visiting West African delegation said
Sunday .
“ The junta has affirmed that it wants a
three- year transition to review the
foundations of the Malian state . This
transition will be directed by a body led by
a soldier , who will also be head of state ,” a
source in the ECOWAS delegation in capital
Bamako told AFP .
“ The government will also be
predominantly composed of soldiers” under
the junta ’s proposal, the source said on
condition of anonymity .
The source added that the junta has agreed
to “ free president Keita ” , who has been
detained along with other political leaders
since the coup on Tuesday, and he “ will be
able to return to his home” in Bamako .
“ And if he wants to travel abroad for
treatment , that is not a problem ,” the
ECOWAS source said .
A junta official confirmed to AFP the
decisions on the fate of Keita and Cisse, as
well as that “ the three – year transition
would have a military president and a
government mostly composed of soldiers” .
The coup followed months of protests
calling for Keita to resign as public
discontent with the government grew over
the country’s brutal Islamist insurgency and
collapsing economy.
While it was met by international
condemnation, thousands of opposition
supporters celebrated the president’s ouster
in the streets of Bamako .
The junta has said it “ completed the work ”
of the protesters and has vowed to stage
elections “ within a reasonable time ” .
However Mali ’s neighbours have called for
Keita to be reinstated , saying the purpose of
the visit by the delegation from the regional
ECOWAS bloc was to help “ ensure the
immediate return of constitutional order” .
Tuesday’s coup was Mali ’ s second in eight
years, and has heightened concern over
regional stability as its jihadist insurgency
that now threatens neighbouring Niger and
Burkina Faso .
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