West African mediators have failed to persuade leaders of a military coup in Mali to immediately hand over power to a civilian government. Leaders of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have since imposed economic sanctions after the coup saying a new president needed to be appointed. This week, ECOWAS leaders met the heads of a military government in an attempt to quicken the transition from military leadership. Last month Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigned hours after soldiers seized him from his home as part of a coup following months of mass protests against alleged corruption and worsening security in the West African country.
On our program today Dr Manu Lekunze, lecturer at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, told Channel Africa that Mali's situation is a complex one where after the coup it has been difficult to manage the demands of the people and demonstrate continuity in governance. Political analyst from South Africa, Advocate Sipho Mantula argues that what is worrying in Mali is the issue which is connected to the militarization of leadership in Africa. They were speaking to Benjamin Moshatama.
