BAMAKO (MALI) – Tasked with presiding over an 18-month transition to civilian rule, retired Colonel Bah Ndaw assumed office as Mali’s interim president on Friday. This follows the Aug. 18 military coup that deposed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
During the ceremony in Bamako, junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita was sworn in as the vice president.
Officials hope that with the former defence minister becoming the president, West African neighbours will lift the sanctions imposed after Keita was deposed.
Goodluck Jonathan, the envoy for the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), had said on Wednesday that he hoped sanctions would be lifted after the swearing in of Ndaw.