Mali: Assimi Goïta President, Dr Choguel Maïga Prime Minister

It is official! The new President of the transition in Mali is Colonel Assimi Goïta, 38. The head of the junta has decided to take matters into his own hands, to put things in order. A decision supported by the overwhelming majority of the Malian population, who are fed up with the « deceit of politicians ». Thus, Colonel Assimi Goïta was confirmed by the Constitutional Court on Friday 28 May as the President of the transition to replace Bah N’Daw.

Colonel Assimi Goïta, who held the post of Vice-President of the transition and was responsible for managing the defence and security files, had been informed that he would not be able to take over the post. But he had made it clear to the ECOWAS delegation that he wanted to be at the heart of the transition, in order to bring order. The strong man of Mali « decapitated » the cabinet of the resigning President, Thursday 27 May, by decree signed by his hand.

Among the appointment decrees repealed, those of the secretary general of the palace, the chief of staff, the director of communication and public relations in the person of Salif Sanogo recently appointed a fortnight ago, and Mohamed Askia, diplomatic adviser to the Presidency.
Dr Choguel Kokala Maiga
Dr Choguel Kokala Maiga

On Friday, the new President of the transition in Mali, Colonel Assimi Goïta, convened an exchange with political parties and Malian civil society. The aim was to explain the new situation in which Mali finds itself and to project itself into the future. In the same vein, the new President officially entrusted the Primacy to the M5-RFP following a meeting with the political class and civil society. The latter would have chosen Dr. Choguel Kokalla Maiga, 63, former Minister of Industry and Trade in the governments of Ahmed Mohamed ag Hamani from 16 October 2002 to 28 April 2004 and Ousmane Issoufi Maiga from 2 May 2004 to 27 September 2007.

This Saturday, President Assimi Goïta will travel to Accra, Ghana, to take part in the extraordinary summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). A baptism of fire much feared by some Malians, who are waiting to see the reaction of ECOWAS on the situation prevailing in their country.