Photos: Mali's 38-year-old president opts for pickup ride to swearing in

Mali, officially, has a new transitional president in the person of Colonel Assimi Goita.

The man who has staged two coups in nine months was sworn into office today, two weeks after he declared himself president and was duly approved by the Constitutional Court.

The 38-year-old has thus served as vice-president of the transitional government and is now president after firing his last boss and first president of the transitional government, Bah Ndaw.

Clad in his full ceremonial attire, a striking aspect of the transitional president is his choice of vehicle to the investiture - a Toyota pickup truck.

That choice has tongues wagging on social media in what has been described as an austere start for the presidential era of the lifelong soldier.

Below are some social media pictures

Colonel Assimi Goita has today been sworn in as interim President of Mali.
Col Goita was head of the junta following coup which saw end of the Keita presidency & 2 weeks ago removed President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane. pic.twitter.com/sCcTCCHMAH

— Samira Sawlani (@samirasawlani) June 7, 2021