Mali’s transitional government leader, retired Col. Major Ba N’Daou on Sunday named a new civilian prime minister.
N’Daou appointed former foreign affairs minister of the country Moctar Ouane to the new role.
Before serving in the role as Mali’s foreign minister between 2004 and 2011, he was Mali’s permanent representative to the UN from 1995 to 2002.
Ouane also served as a diplomatic adviser to the west African regional bloc, Ecowas.
Ecowas had said that it will not lift sanctions imposed on Mali although the country had an interim president.
The body said until a civilian prime minister was appointed by the transitional government, sanctions imposed on Mali will not be lifted.
The sanctions on Mali include border closures and the suspension of financial flows, though these were eased so they did not hit ordinary civilians.
The Ecowas delegation in Mali, led by former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan told reporters that the regional bloc is only prepared to lift sanctions on Mali when a civilian prime minister is named.
The latest appointment appears to have now settled the demands of Ecowas to make way for the lifting of sanctions.
Soldiers toppled the government of former president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta last month.
The interim president and his government are now expected to oversee the 18-month transition period towards a return to civilian rule.
The Head of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People which carried out the coup, Colonel Assimi Goïta now serves as transitional vice-president.
Source: Africafeeds.com
