Col Assimi Goita is leader of the ruling junta |
BAMAKO, Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Malian lawmakers have unanimously approved a transitional roadmap okaying a five-year tenure for the military junta in charge.
The vote means the Assimi Goita-led junta has until 2027 to conduct the next democratic election.
Failure to abide by a February 2022 electoral timeline triggered sanctions from regional bloc, ECOWAS late last year.
The bloc rejected an extended transition period as had been proposed by the junta.
President Nana Akufo-Addo, who is current ECOWAS chair said leaders were aghast at the four-year transition because according to him, that was a long as a democratically elected President would stay for a full term.
Mali is now taking legal action to lift sanctions imposed by West Africa’s monetary union, Uemoa, as it battles a debt crisis. — NNN-AGENCIES