Colonel Mali, Assimi Goita, said last week that his first speech since taking power this week would appoint a new prime minister within a few days.

Agence France-Presse reported that as international pressure put pressure on the country’s ruling military administration, the officer announced the news during a meeting with political and civil society figures in Bamako on Friday.

The soldiers detained President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane on Monday, then released them on Thursday after resignation.

But the arrest of the twins sparked a diplomatic commotion-and marked the second obvious coup in this unstable country in a year.

August coup

After the coup in August last year overthrew Mali’s president-elect Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (Ibrahim Boubacar Keita), Ndaw and Ouane led a transitional government to lead the return of civilians rule.

The young officers of Keita under Goita were forced to deport because of protests against corruption and his failure to quell the bloody rebellion.

In his speech on Friday, Gotta said: “In the next few days, the prime minister to be appointed will conduct extensive consultations among the various factions.”

He asked those attending the meeting to support his prime minister who prefers the opposition M5 movement, which was once powerful but was rejected by the military after the coup in August.

Gotta said: “Either we accept to join forces to save our country, or we start a secret war, and we will all lose.”

It was announced that the transitional government was established under the threat of regional sanctions, and its declared goal is to restore full civilian rule within 18 months. But his appointment was severely affected by the military.

After the coup, the head of the military government, Goita, was appointed vice president, and other important positions were handed over to officers. The colonel’s office said that after the resignation of the president and prime minister, he will again lead the country.

Gotta explained on Friday that the army has no choice but to intervene.

He said: “We must choose between the chaos and cohesion of the defense and security forces, and we choose cohesion.”

The detentions of Ndaw and Ouane took place a few hours after the government was reorganized. The government will replace the Minister of Defense and Security. They are all officers who participated in the coup last year.

Neighbor worried

The political turmoil in Mali worries the country’s neighbors, which has led to efforts to resolve the crisis.

Diplomats told AFP on Friday that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will discuss the situation in the Ghanaian capital Accra on Sunday.

The Group of 15 also warned that sanctions will be imposed on the country. The same is true for the United States and former colonial ruler France.

Despite this, people still worry that sanctions will further destabilize the country of 19 million people who have been fighting armed groups since 1900.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised the release of Enda and Varn last Friday, but urged Mali to finally hold “democratic elections.”

Goita wants to appoint a member of the June 5th Movement (M5-RFP) group as prime minister, a move that some people believe can reduce pressure on the military.

M5 took the lead in launching protests against Keita in 2020, but was excluded from important positions in the government after the military-led coup.

Living in harmony with the group may help alleviate criticism of the military at home and abroad.

The International Crisis Group stated that the M5 Prime Minister could reduce international concerns, and the movement itself seemed willing to cooperate with the military.

The organization’s spokesperson Jeamille Bittar said at a press conference on Friday that M5 will appoint one of its officers, Choguel Maiga, as prime minister.

He said: “We must all come together around the new government.”

In Bamako, almost no one opposes the latest military exercise of power. Most people have wearily accepted its role in politics.

Some people even welcome this. On Friday, hundreds of people gathered in the city’s central square to support the army, many holding a portrait of Gotta.