As tensions continue to rise in Mali following last month’s military coup, the opposition coalition, M5-RFP, which led mass protests after the coup, has rejected an offer involving a transition charter that will see the military hold on to power for 18 months before the next civilian rule. 

Mali Military Proposes Solution

Military leaders who currently control governmental operations in Mali agreed to establish an 18-month transition government until an election can take place in the volatile country. Speaking on behalf of the military, Spokesperson Moussa Camara stated that the interim government would either be led by a military officer or a civilian. 

The pledge came on Saturday, after three days of talks with the opposition and civil society groups on a timeline for Mali’s return to civilian rule, even though the military initially had a longer transitional timeline of 2 years, a suggestion the public was not particularly pleased with. 

ECOWAS and Opposition Respond

Rejecting the offer, the M5-RFP group said the document was an attempt by military leaders to “grab and confiscate power.”

“It concerns, in particular, the profile of the president of the transition who must be a civilian and non-military personality, since this would subject us to the sanctions of the international community, hence ECOWAS, and the terms and conditions for the appointment of this president. And we have heard that it would be by a panel whereas this aspect was never debated in the plenary.” Ibrahim Ikassa Maïga, one of the leaders of the June 5 Movement explained, adding that the document “did not reflect the views and decisions of the Malian people.”

ECOWAS has warned that the military government must designate a civilian leader to head a one-year transition period by September 15 or else the country could face further sanctions.

The military junta, opposition coalition and ECOWAS are set to meet this week to further deliberate on the next line of action. 

The military ousted ex-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta last month following several protests against his government.