Mali: President Keita approves new gov’t ahead of talks with Tuareg separatists

Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has approved a new government, before the launch of new peace talks this month with separatists in the north of the country.

Mali is still recovering from a period of heavy turbulence following an incursion by al Qaeda-linked Islamists in 2012 into the desert north. The incursion prompted military intervention in the following year.

In a statmement, issued late on Saturday, Keita appointed Tieman Hubert Coulibaly, who served in Keita’s first government, as defence minister. It also named Mamadou Igor Diarra as economy and finance minister.

There was no change at the key foreign affairs and mines ministries.

Last Thursday Modiba Keita, who is not a relation of the president, as Mali’s prime minister was named Prime Minister. He replaced Moussa Mara, a former presidential candidate in 2013 who resigned.

Last year, Modiba Keita headed the government delegation in negotiations with the northern Tuareg separatists. His main challenge now will be the peace talks with the separatists, set for later this month in Algiers.

The new government list includes a second Tuareg member, Mohamed Ag Erlaf, as environment minister.

Source: Reuters