Mali junta moves to appoint interim president after embargo threat

Bamako – Mali’s ruling military junta said on Wednesday that it is making moves to appoint interim president.

This comes after West African leaders imposed economic sanctions after the coup, but they appear to have had a limited effect so far.

ECOWAS leaders have given one week for a civilian interim president and prime minister to be placed.

The junta spokesperson, Ismael Wague, told reporters it could not give an immediate response. A transitional charter approved at multi-party talks says the interim president can be a soldier or a civilian and will be chosen by electors selected by the junta.

The ruling junta announced a plan that would allow a military leader to oversee an 18-month transitional period but this wasn’t accepted by the opposition groups.