The protest coalition that campaigned against former Mali president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has proposed that the military junta that ousted him organise a transition to civilian rule within 24 months, one of its leaders said Sunday.
The protest movement has demanded that the military junta give it a role in the transition, in keeping with its role in spearheading Keita's ouster.
It has proposed a transition of 18 to 24 months with civilians heading a transitional presidency, government and assembly
France warns against risk of terrorism
Earlier, in an interview with Europe 1 station on Sunday, Army minister Florence Parly warned that the region risked falling into the hands of terrorists, "because terrorists feed on the weakness of states and the Malian state is weak, very weak at the moment."
"Moreover, the international community, which has committed itself to the Sahel, and Mali in particular, could ask itself questions," Parly also warned.
France has more than 5,000 soldiers as part of Operation Barkhane, its military force in the Sahel.
The UN has deployed 13,000 soldiers to Mali in one of its biggest peacekeeping operations. Takuba, a European special forces group, as well as the G5 Sahel, an under-resourced force of regional soldiers, are also present.
Mali's military rulers on Saturday postponed the first scheduled meeting with political and civil organisations on the transfer of power.
- Mali junta releases ousted president Keita
- French-speaking group of nations suspends Mali in wake of military coup
A protest coalition that had campaigned against former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the 'June 5 Movement', was not invited to the meeting and accused the new military rulers of trying to hijack the coup.
Neighbouring West African countries, which are demanding a return to civil rule and elections within 12 months, decided Friday to maintain the closure of borders and a ban on trade and financial flows with Mali.
