Mali’s current President Bah Ndaw has made former Malian Foreign Minister Moctar Ouane as prime minister. The appointment was on Sunday and opened the way for the country’s neighbours to lift sanctions established after its August military coup. A civilian premier was the precursor for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to lift sanctions. It imposed two days after the August 18 coup removing President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, which the military government claimed stated no casualties.
Ouane aged 64 is a veteran diplomat who was Mali’s ambassador and served in the United Nations for 7 years (1995-2002), and as foreign minister from 2004-2009 during Amadou Toumani Toure’s presidency. Ndaw is a former colonel and defence minister and was sworn in before Mali’s supreme court on Friday with military government chief Assimi Goita as his deputy. The military government promised the country that there will be civilian rule after a transition period lasting up to 18 months.
Data source: Al Jazeera
