Junta’s Popularity Growing Despite International Opposition-Written by: Nation

Written by: Nation
Junta’s Popularity Growing Despite International Opposition-Written by: Nation
The Mali junta’s popularity is growing despite international opposition towards it. On Friday, supporters of the military leadership attended a mammoth rally to show their support for the junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita. The junta’s rising support comes on the backdrop of rising anti-French sentiment, fuelled by French President Emmanuel Macron’s opposition to a military-led transition government. On Friday, France announced the suspension of a joint military operation with the West African state which is battling nearly a decade long Islamist induced war in the northern region. The suspension means that the French army will cease to provide military advice and training to the Malian forces. France has over 5,000 soldiers in the Sahel region including Mali, Chad and Burkina Faso, which have suffered incessant jihadist attacks launched from Mali. The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) last week suspended Mali over the coup, a move followed by the African Union. And on Saturday, it emerged that the World Bank had suspended funding for the country over the coup. The bank, through its International Development Association (IDA) arm, is currently funding $1.5 billion worth of projects in the country. In a statement, it said its move, which is “temporary”, was in “accordance with the World Bank policy applicable to similar situations.” It added that it was closely monitoring and assessing the situation. Majority of Friday’s protesters were from the M5 Movement, a coalition of civil society and opposition political parties, which called for the rally. The protesters assembled at the Independence Square in the capital Bamako, displaying placards endorsing the junta and some condemning France. Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Almost finished… We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Civilian prime minister This comes as the nation anticipates the naming of a new civilian prime minister. Mr Choguel Kokalla Maiga, who is the head of the M5 Movement, has been proposed for appointment as the PM. Several protests by the group in August last year led to the first coup in Mali that ousted former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. But the group was side-lined in the transition government. A government reshuffle meant to satisfy the group led to the second coup on May 24, after two senior coup leaders were dropped from the new government. The interim president and prime minister were detained but later released after international outcry. Protests Friday’s rally marked the one-year anniversary of the protests. Prime Minister designate Maiga addressed the crowd, noting that Mali was looking for support from its allies and not sanctions and threats, which he said would only complicate the ongoing political crisis. Mr Maiga is expected to set up a “broad-based” government that should spearhead the transition to democracy under a plan negotiated by Ecowas. “We will respect international engagements that aren’t contrary to the fundamental interests of the Malian people,” he told the protesters on Friday, he “Sanctions and threats will only complicate the situation,” he added. Read the original article on Nation. AllAfrica publishes around 900 reports a day from more than 130 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us. AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa – aggregating, producing and distributing 900 news and information items daily from over 130 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. We operate from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington DC. Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Almost finished… We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.
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