For the formation of the new government in Mali, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane and Transition President have chosen to differ from two emblematic figures from the ex-junta. The announcement of the formation of the new government was made on Monday, May 25, by Transition’s presidency in a press release read on public radio and television. Following the announcement, the situation became tense.
as reported from Bamako, Serge Daniel
It is a new government group consisting of representatives of several political parties, relatives of the Prime Minister and the main party of the M5 movement that participated in the case of former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.
Two colonel, important men in the junta who took power in August last year and who held the defense and security portfolios are leaving the government. Sadio Camara and Modibo Koné are replaced by two army generals. Among them will be Souleymane Doucouré, an aircraft pilot respected by the troops, the new Minister of Defense.
On the finance post, Dionké Diarra, who has previously been in land issues and who is close to the Prime Minister.
In this team of 25 members, the ministers hold their portfolios as Kadiatou Konaré, at the Ministry of Culture, Crafts and Tourism.
The armed groups of the previous uprising and those close to power are represented in the new open government.
Another detail, the URD, the main party for the M5, a movement that participated in the case of former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, made a strong entry into the government with two portfolios: the one for land issues and the one for national education.
Military discontent
Shortly after the announcement of the change of government, armed men went to the official home of Prime Minister Moctar Ouane. He had time to explain by telephone the presence of soldiers in his home: “Soldiers are currently with me. They are driving me to the president of the transition,” Bah N’Daw, with whom he shares a party wall.
Another witness to the scene added: “It was the men in the ex-junta who forced the prime minister to go to the president. They were armed. “
Other information is circulating, but no confirmation. So be careful. On the other hand, what we can say with certainty is that the ex-junta’s tenors did not approve the exchange that saw two of them leave the Ministry of Security and the Ministry of Defense. And both are from the National Guard. For several days we had been talking here about the dissatisfaction of the military. Is this a direct consequence? Some believe so. We have to wait to know the rest of the story.
Read also: Mali: negotiations are underway for the formation of a new government
.
