After last year’s coup, the military junta of the West African crisis-ridden state of Mali promised elections by the end of March 2024. This was announced by the putschist leader and interim president Assimi Goïta on Tuesday in the capital Bamako.

The so-called transition period was retrospectively set at two years as of March 24. A few days earlier, the West African economic community Ecowas decided to maintain sanctions against Mali.

Last year, the military overthrew Mali’s interim government, which was supposed to be in office until the elections in February of this year. The junta then announced it would not hold elections for another five years.

She maintains close contacts with Russia and is said to have hired fighters from the Wagner mercenary group.

The former colonial power France then decided to end its fight against terrorism in Mali and to withdraw its combat troops.

The Bundeswehr continues to be involved in the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA. However, the European training mission EUTM is largely stopped.