Goita, Coup Leader and US-educated President of Mali

BAMAKO – Constitutional Court Mali on Friday declared Assimi Goita, the colonel who led this week’s military coup while serving as vice president, as the new interim president. He was a U.S. Special Operations force-trained officer and received military training in France and Germany.

The Constitutional Court’s decision comes just as West African leaders prepare to meet on Sunday (30/5/2021) to respond to the takeover of power in Mali. The military coup has jeopardized the transition back to democracy and could undermine regional struggles against armed militant groups.

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Goita became interim vice president after leading the coup last August that toppled President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. He then ordered the arrests of President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane on Monday.

Both resigned on Wednesday while still in custody. They were later released.

The Constitutional Court said in its ruling that Goita must fill the void left by Ndaw’s resignation. “To lead the transition process to its conclusion and bear the title of transitional president, head of state,” the ruling reads Reuters.

The ruling sets Mali on a path at odds with the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which insists that the transition, which ends with elections in February, remains civilian-led.

After agreeing in October to lift sanctions imposed after the coup against Keita, ECOWAS said in a declaration that a transitional vice president under no circumstances could replace the president.

ECOWAS leaders are scheduled to meet in Ghana on Sunday.

They and Western powers including France and the United States fear the political crisis could exacerbate instability in northern and central Mali, home to regional affiliates of al-Qaeda and Islamic State.

Goita, a 38-year-old special forces commander, was one of several colonels who led the coup against Keita. He ousted Ndaw after the interim president appointed a new cabinet that removed two of the other coup leaders from their ministry posts.

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Late Friday, Goita said on national television that he would appoint a new prime minister from among members of the M5-RFP coalition, which led protests against Keita last year and fell out with Ndaw and Ouane during the transition.

Jeamille Bitar, a member of the coalition, said his choice was Choguel Maiga, a former government minister.

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