By Lucy Adautin
The leader of Mali’s 2020 military coup, Colonel Assimi Goita, elevated himself to the rank of army general recently, adopting a special title. Goita, who heads the land army, now holds the nation’s highest military rank, previously attained by only two former heads of state.
This decision suggests that Goita is not planning to relinquish control to civilian authorities in the West African country.
The Council of Ministers made the announcement, releasing a statement through the general secretariat of Mali’s government.
Additionally, five influential colonels from the military junta were “exceptionally” promoted to the rank of four-star generals.
“This further reinforces the idea that junta leaders are positioning themselves to remain in power, with no signs of a democratic transition to civilian rule in the near future,” said Rida Lyammouri, a senior fellow at the Policy Center for the New South in Morocco.
A date for Mali’s presidential election has yet to be determined.
