Malians question the appointment of transitional President

The people of Mali are flooded with more questions than answers after the appointment of former Minister for Defense, Bah N’daw as president during the transition period.

Bah N’Daw was appointed by a 30-person panel set up by the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), the junta that has ruled Mali since soldiers overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Aug. 18.

According to sources, the people of Mali do not see his appointment as that of a civilian leader but rather a military officer.

A lecturer in Mali, Steve Nuku sharing insights into the country’s situation told Happy 98.9 FM’s Samuel Eshun, host of the Happy Morning Show, “We have more questions than answers after his appointment because our current head of state is a retired soldier.

He disclosed that regardless of Baw N’daw being considered an upright man without a corruption stain, his appointment is still being questioned.

He indicated that the question on the lips of everyone is “if ECOWAS is going to view the transition body as civilian because the President for the transitional period is a retired military officer who by law is now a civilian.”

On his authority, most Malians believe that the dissolution of the CNSP will see the transitional bodies and other state agencies being infiltrated by members of the military junta.

Steve believes the people of Mali have not been vocal about these events because they hope the transition body will do a better job and make life better for them as compared to the overthrow government.

The new president Bah N’Daw is expected to serve as head of state for several months before civilians return to power.

Leader of the military junta, Colonel Assimi Goïta, says he has been appointed as the transitional vice president. He stated that the swearing ceremony will happen on Friday 25th September 2020.

These announcements came after several weeks of debate among Malians over whether the transitional government will be led by civilians or the military.