Assimi Goita appointed president in Mali by Constitutional Court

By Aurore Bonny

LOME, Togo (AA) - The Constitutional Court in Mali decided to appoint Assimi Goita as president late Friday under the Constitution and a transitional charter.

The decision came after the recent resignations of the president and prime minister.

The Court cited excerpts from a resignation letter by now former-President Bah N'Daw's on May 24.

N'Daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane were forcibly taken to a military camp on Monday by Goita, who was the vice president and leader of the junta.

Goita said N’Daw and Ouane appointed a new government without his consent. He also accused them of "sabotaging" the country’s transition.

Three days later, they resigned and were released.

In a meeting with political parties earlier Friday in the capital, Bamako, Goita expressed his desire to appoint a new prime minister "in the coming days."

With a military leader at the helm of the transition, Mali is at odds with the demands of the African and international communities that want a civilian president since a coup there last August.

African leaders have threatened sanctions if the junta does not meet their demands.