The officer, who overthrew a democratically elected leader in Mali in early March and dissolved the constitution in the country, has had a change of heart. Under enormous pressure from neighboring countries and others around the world, the junior officer reinstated the constitution and will hold elections.
Amadou Haya Sanogo, a captain, said he would hold a national convention to form a transitional government that will hold fair elections. What is still not clear is the date for the convention or when the elections would be held following the convention. He also did not announce if he was going to remain the president during the period of transition.
His announcement coincided with the Tuareg rebels taking control of Timbuktu, the ancient city in the north, a move that will further deepen the problems in the nation in West Africa. The rebels sensed the chaos in the capital last week and took advantage by grabbing control of Lidal about 800 miles from Bamako. The rebels took Gao, the largest northern city on Saturday.
Mali at one time was a model for democracy, but plunged into crisis when a military mutiny started about six miles from the presidential palace in late March. Sanogo stayed with those that did not flee the camp and soon became their leader. They looted the armory and headed to the governmental center.
By overthrowing the government, he ended 21 year of democracy. The standing president at the time was sent into hiding. He was due to relinquish power to a new president that would have been elected in a presidential election the end of April, if not for the coup. Neighboring countries had told Sanogo he had 72 hours to restore order to the constitution or he would have crippling sanctions placed on the country.
