Mali: military leaders receive power to rule for up to five years

Mali’s National Assembly has unanimously approved a plan allowing the military leader to rule the country for up to five years.

Mali’s interim government now has the power to lead the West African nation for the next five years and no date has yet been set for future polls.

Elections had been due last month but were cancelled by Mali’s military leaders, prompting economic sanctions by regional bloc Ecowas and the European Union.

Mali is now taking legal action to lift sanctions imposed by West Africa’s monetary union, Uemoa, as it battles a debt crisis.