Mali coup leader due to be sworn in as president

Colonel Assimi Goïta is expected to be  sworn in as Mali’s interim president today, Monday.

It’s a fortnight since he removed the transitional president and prime minister in a coup – the second he’s engineered in nine months.

Last week, leaders of the West African bloc, Ecowas, joined the African Union in suspending Mali’s membership, calling on the military government to adhere to an 18-month transition towards presidential elections in February.

France and other Western powers also want a return to civilian rule.

Mali is key to the stability of the Sahel region that’s beset by a jihadist insurgency.