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Mali suffered two military coups and an assassination attempt last year in addition to an ongoing jihadist insurgency.
Here’s a timeline on the anniversary of the first military takeover:
August blow
On August 18, 2020, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was overthrown by a group of young army officers after months of protests sparked by alleged corruption and failure to quell jihadist violence.
The next day, Assimi Goita, a colonel in his thirties, appears as the new military strongman.
The coup d’état is strongly condemned by the international community and the West African economic bloc, ECOWAS, imposes sanctions.
Acting Civilian President
On September 12, the junta bowed to international pressure and undertook to authorize full civilian rule within 18 months.
On September 21, former Defense Minister Bah Ndaw was appointed interim president with Colonel Goita as vice-president.
Fifteen days later, a government was formed with the military occupying key positions. ECOWAS lifts its sanctions.
The election dates are fixed
On April 15, the dates of the presidential and parliamentary elections for a transfer of civil power are set for February and March 2022.
The government resigns
With growing discontent with the military, the government of Prime Minister Moctar Ouane resigned on May 14.
The army intervenes again
Army officers unhappy with the reshuffle quickly arrested Ouane and President Ndaw, promulgating a second military takeover.
The international community demands their release, with France warning that the European Union could impose sanctions.
Colonel Goita says he took away their powers for trying to “sabotage” the transition. But he says he will stick to the deadline for the interim government elections.
The enigma of Goita
While the United Nations Security Council condemns the arrests, the junta declares that Ndaw and Ouane have resigned.
On May 27, Ouane and Ndaw were reportedly released, but ECOWAS says they remain under house arrest.
The next day, the Constitutional Court of Mali declared Goita transitional president. He promises that a new prime minister will be appointed in a few days.
Outside ECOWAS, AU
On May 30, Mali was suspended from ECOWAS, although the bloc did not reimpose sanctions. Two days later, the African Union followed suit.
On June 3, France suspends joint military operations with Mali.
Despite the conviction, Goita is sworn in as transitional president and promises that “credible, fair and transparent elections” will be held by February 2022.
He appoints a seasoned political actor, Choguel Kokalla Maiga, 63, as prime minister.
Assassination auction
On July 20, Goita survives an assassination attempt in Bamako’s main mosque.
Five days later, the government said the man accused of stabbing him died in detention after “his health deteriorated”.
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