Mali’s constitutional court has appointed military coup leader, Colonel Assimi Goïta, as the new transitional President.
The court said it had made the decision due to the “vacancy in the presidency” following the resignation of caretaker President Bah Ndaw.
Goïta had declared himself interim president on Wednesday, two days after seizing power, the second time.
Goita led the mutiny that ousted ex-President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August 2020.
Goita, 38, was previously Ndaw’s deputy, and had ordered the former leader’s arrest on Monday following a cabinet reshuffle that stripped two soldiers of their ministerial posts.
Interim President, Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister, Moctar Ouane were detained by the military on Monday.
They were held along with Defence Minister, Souleymane Doucouré.
Goita said they were removed for violating the transition charter.
“We had to choose between disorder and cohesion within the defence and security forces, and we chose cohesion”, he defended his actions on Friday.
