Mali coup leader Amadou Sanogo to keep former head of state privileges
Mali junta leader Captain Amadou Sanogo speaks at the Kati Military camp, in a suburb of Bamako, on March 22, 2012. The coup leader said he is the head of the National Committee for the Establishment of Democracy, said his move was prompted by government’s “inability” to put down a Tuareg-led insurrection in the north.
The Malian coup leader Amadou Sanogo – who toppled president Amadou Toumani Touré in March – is to retain the title of the former head of state in an agreement that forges a transition to democratic rule, Agence France Presse reported.
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The accord was signed in the capital Bamako Sunday between the Malian authorities and mediators from the West African bloc ECOWAS.
Speaking afterwards, Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister, Djibrill Bassole, one of the mediators, said:
"Captain Amadou Sanogo has the status of former head of state. He will have
all the benefits coming with his rank."
The parties also reached an agreement on a year-long transition to restore full democratic rule to Mali.
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The ruling military junta agreed to allow interim president Dioncounda Traore to lead the post-coup transitional process, starting after a 40-day interim period imposed by the constitution, Voice of America reported.