Mali junta chief promoted from colonel to general
by AFP Staff Writers
Dakar (AFP) Oct 16, 2024

Mali's junta leader Colonel Assimi Goita and five other key figures in the military administration have been promoted to general, according to a statement released after a cabinet meeting Wednesday.

Goita has led the central African state since two military coups in 2020 and 2021 as it faced a crisis over a mounting jihadist insurgency. The statement said the promotion had been awarded as a "special measure".

Colonels Sadio Camara, the defence minister, Malick Diaw, head of the nominal legislative assembly, Ismael Wague, reconciliation minister, intelligence chief Modibo Kone and government spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga were also made army generals.

All have been key members of the junta that has broken with former colonial power France and now has closer ties with Russia.

The junta had promised elections by February this year but missed the deadline and has not announced future plans for the government. Goita is often named as a probable candidate if a presidential election is held.

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