In Mali, the coup leaders formed a council to run the country during a 9-month transitional period. While the neighboring countries demanded the return of the ousted president, Ibrahim Keita, to his post, France announced that it would continue the "Barkhane" process despite the change that Mali had witnessed.
In a statement today, Thursday, the "National Committee for the Salvation of the People" - formed by the putschists - announced the establishment of a transitional council consisting of 24 members to manage the transitional period that is supposed to be followed by general elections.
The committee added that the transitional council includes 6 soldiers and 18 civilians, and continued that it will play the role of the transitional legislative body, provided that the council president is elected by its members.
The committee stated that the head of the transitional council will assume the positions of head of state and leader of the transitional phase.
According to the same statement, a national unity government will be formed that includes 15 ministers, and none of the members of the Transitional Council is entitled to run in the upcoming elections (presidential, legislative and referendum) scheduled to take place in April 2021.
Colonel Assimi Guetta announced himself yesterday as the leader of the military coup led by 5 army officers, after widespread protests by the opposition against the rule of President Ibrahim Abu Bakr Katya, and the coup pledges to achieve a civilian political transition and hold elections.
After being detained in a barracks near the capital, Bamako, Keita announced his resignation from power, the dismissal of the government and the dissolution of Parliament.
Outside and inside
The military coup in Mali seemed to take hold after the announcement of the formation of a leadership for a short transitional period, despite widespread international condemnation of the military overthrow of President Ibrahim Keita.
During an extraordinary summit held today, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), consisting of 15 members, called for the ousted Malian president to return to his post as president of the republic.
The President of Niger, Mohamed Issoufou - who chaired the summit, which was conducted by means of video technology - announced that the group, which includes neighboring countries of Mali, will send a delegation to Bamako to ensure the immediate return to constitutional order.
The ECOWAS group had condemned the coup in Mali, and suspended that country's membership in it, and closed the borders of member states with Mali.
In a similar move, the African Union suspended Mali's membership in it, and demanded the restoration of the constitutional status in that country, and the release of President Ibrahim Keita, the Prime Minister and other detained officials.
In contrast to the positions rejecting the coup, whether by neighboring countries or Western countries, the opposition in Mali declared its support for the military coup, after it had tried for months to overthrow President Keita through widespread popular protests.
The "June 5 Coalition - the Gathering of Democratic Forces" said in a statement that it would take all initiatives to develop a roadmap, the contents of which would be agreed upon with the "National Committee for the Salvation of the People" and all the living forces in the country.
Regarding the general situation in Mali two days after the coup, it was reported that calm prevails over the capital, Macau and other cities, as employees and workers return to their previous activities.
Barkhane process
For her part, the French Minister of Armies, Florence Parly, confirmed that her country will continue its military operations in Mali despite the coup that ousted President Ibrahim Keita.
Parly said in a tweet on Twitter that the Barkhane operation that her country is conducting there was at the request of the people of Mali, and authorized by the UN Security Council.
The demonstrations in Mali recently witnessed the raising of anti-French slogans, which some Malians blame for some of the problems that afflict their country.