West African mediators propose one year transitional government in Mali: reports
West African mediators have told Mali’s military junta that the region would accept a transitional government led by a civilian or a retired army officer for a maximum of one year, Reuters reports quoting Nigeria’s presidency.
“The Interim Government would then organize elections to restore full constitutional order,” it said.
The development comes following a meeting earlier on Thursday between President Muhammadu Buhari and the head of the mediation team, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) deployed a mediation team to Mali in search of a peaceful solution to the political crisis there following the ouster of president Ibrahim Keita last week.
Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse were arrested alongside other government officials after the military took power on 18 August following weeks of protests in the West African country.
ECOWAS led other countries and organizations in condemning the ouster, but thousands of Malians took to the streets on Friday to show their support for it.
Keita was last seen on Tuesday when he made a televised resignation from his position as well as the immediate dissolution of his government and the National Assembly.
