Crisis in Mali
Abstract
The military's ouster of Mali's elected president in August 2020 heightened political uncertainty amid severe security, governance, and humanitarian challenges. Under pressure from economic sanctions imposed by West African leaders, the junta agreed to hand power to a nominally civilian-led transitional government, with retired military officer and former defense minister Bah N'Daw serving as President and former foreign minister Moctar Ouane as Prime Minister. Junta leader Col. Assimi Goita was named Vice President, a new position, and military officers are serving in four key cabinet posts. The transitional administration is expected to organize elections within 18 months. Many in Bamako welcomed the militarys actions as the culmination of weeks of protests against President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who resigned and dissolved parliament after being detained by soldiers. Mali's new authorities may struggle to meet popular expectations, however. Much of the country's territory is under the control of Islamist insurgents and other armed groups. A 2015 peace accord with northern separatists has not been fully implemented. Ethnic militias, some of which appear to enjoy state backing, have massacred civilians in rural northeast and central Mali, and military forces have been implicated in extrajudicial killings. While comparatively secure, Bamako has seen several big terrorist attacks, including a hotel siege in 2015 in which 19 civilians (including an American) were killed. Rebel, terrorist, communal defense, and criminal networks often overlap.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 21, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1170002
Entities
People
- Alexis Arieff
Organizations
- Library of Congress