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Mali: Unease continues as military wants transitional leader
By Tasie Theodore
A state of unease continues in Mali this Friday as the military leaders now in charge of the country have indicated their preference for a transitional leader and not the return of the ousted President, Ibrahim Keita.
Keita was removed from office by the soldiers at the peak of heightened disaffection with his administration which had led to a virtual paralysis of activities in the country since the beginning of the year.
On Thursday however, leaders of the sub-regional grouping, the Economic Community for West African States, ECOWAS, called for a reinstatement of the deposed President.
However, leaders of the military do not feel that option is on the card and say they have continued to hold talks with the opposition and other interest groups in the country so as to find a transitional leader around which the nation would rebuild, preparatory to the conduct of fresh elections and the restoration of full democracy.
They also say that they are not outrightly averse to the transitional leader being a civilian.
An ECOWAS delegation is expected to set out for Bamako to continue talks with the military leaders.
Col. Assimi Goita, coup leader
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