In Mali, the opposition welcomed Wednesday, August 19 the military coup of the day before, believing that it had "completed" its fight to obtain the departure of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and saying it was ready to work with the junta a political transition.

The opposition coalition of M5-RFP "takes note of the commitment" of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) ", created by the military now in power," to open a civil political transition ", a- She said in a press release. She "will undertake all initiatives" for "the development of a roadmap, the content of which will be agreed with the CNSP and all the forces of the country." She said she was ready to celebrate Friday "the victory of the Malian people". 

Withdrawal of Imam Dicko

At the end of the day, a spokesperson for Imam Mahmoud Dicko, a Salafist preacher considered to be one of the leaders of the protest, announced that the latter had decided to withdraw from political life after a meeting with representatives of the coup plotters. If no details were immediately available on this withdrawal, he suggests that at least part of the opposition is satisfied with the mutineers' promise to restore political stability.

A Malian army colonel, Assimi Goita, presented himself on Wednesday as the new strongman in Bamako. If the Malian opposition is in his favor, however, he will not be able to count on the slightest indulgence from the international community which unanimously condemned the putsch, demanding the return to constitutional order and the release of President Keïta, arrested Tuesday by the military.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has tried unsuccessfully to resolve the crisis that has hit Mali since June, suspended the country before an extraordinary meeting of its heads of state on Thursday to discuss the question. 

With AFP and Reuters

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