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UPDATE 1-Mali junta seeks three-year post-coup transition, West Africans say one is enough

Published 26/08/2020, 19:19
Updated 26/08/2020, 19:24

(.)
ABUJA, Aug 26 (Reuters) - The leaders of the military coup
in Mali have told a delegation of West African mediators that
they want to stay in power for a three-year transition period,
Nigeria said on Wednesday.
Negotiators from the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) were sent to Mali at the weekend to discuss a
return to civilian rule with the military officers who ousted
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in the Aug. 18 coup.
But three days of meetings ended without a decision on the
structure of a transitional government.
The junta leaders said after taking power that they acted
because the country was sinking into chaos and insecurity which
they said was largely the fault of poor government. They also
promised to oversee a transition to elections within a
"reasonable" amount of time.
The Nigerian presidency said the mutineers were now seeking
to oversee a three-year transition before elections. Earlier,
ECOWAS envoy Goodluck Jonathan had given an update on talks to
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.
"We also told them that what would be acceptable to ECOWAS
was an Interim Government, headed by a civilian or retired
military officer, to last for six or nine months, and maximum of
12 calendar months," the presidency quoted Jonathan as saying in
a statement.
The coup has raised the prospect of further political
turmoil in Mali which, like other countries in the region, has
faced an expanding threat from Islamist militants and civil
unrest.
Coup leaders have held Keita since his overthrow, declining
an ECOWAS request for him to be moved to his own residence.
"They said he could travel abroad, and not return to answer
questions they may have for him," Jonathan was quoted as saying.
The bloc has taken a hardline on the coup, shutting borders
and halting some financial flows.
"The military leaders want ECOWAS to lift sanctions put in
place, as it was already affecting the country," it said.
Leaders of the 15-nation bloc are scheduled to hold a
summit on Friday to discuss further steps.

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