The decision is contained in a decree signed the day before by Goita, who set March 26 as the date to be taken into account for the 24-month count.

The transition period was prevoiusly rejected by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), which imposed sanctions on Bamako after it failed to fullfill its promise to organize elections last February.

These sanctions include the blocking of accounts of members of the military junta in regional banks, the withdrawal of its ambassadors in Bamako and the suspension of all commercial transactions with Mali, with the exception of some commodities.

The Ecowas, at an extraordinary summit of heads of State and government on Saturday, postponed to next July an assessment of the situation following the coups in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.

Goita staged in May 2021 an uprising against President Ba N’Daou, who was in office on a transitional basis after the colonel staged another military coup in August 2020 against President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

pgh/arm/mem/ro