Assimi Goita: Mali’s army commander who seized power twice

The military leader who grabbed power for the second time this year has been inaugurated as interim president.

Mali’s military leader Colonel Assimi Goita, who orchestrated his second coup in nine months, has been sworn in as the transitional president despite international condemnation of May’s power grab. Goita, who served as Mali’s vice president under transitional President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, seized power late last month after accusing them of failing to consult him about a Cabinet reshuffle that would have replaced the defence and security ministers – both military officers. The transitional government led by Ndaw and Ouane was installed in the wake of the first coup in August.