Veteran diplomat Moctar Ouane named as interim Mali prime minister

27 September 2020| 09 Safar 1442| IOL News

Former foreign minister Moctar Ouane was named as Mali’s interim prime minister,a move likely to trigger the lifting of sanctions imposed by the West Africa regional bloc in the aftermath of the military coup last month.

A veteran diplomat, Ouane, 64, served as Mali’s ambassador to the United Nations in 1995-2002, and as foreign minister in2004-2011. The bloc had demanded a civilian leader be installed as a condition for lifting the sanctions.

Ouane’s appointment comes two days after retired colonel Bah Ndaw was sworn in as the country’s president, and coup-leader Colonel Assimi Goita as vice president.

The men will be tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition back to civilian rule after the Aug. 18 overthrow of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.