Fact Check: General Assimi Goita has led Mali since orchestrating two coups in 2020 and 2021.
What We Know
General Assimi Goita has been a prominent figure in Mali's political landscape since he led the 2020 coup that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. Following this initial coup, he was appointed as the vice president of the transitional government. However, in May 2021, Goita orchestrated a second coup, which resulted in the detention of the interim president Bah Ndaw and the prime minister, Moctar Ouane. This action effectively consolidated his power, and he was declared the interim president of Mali shortly thereafter (source-2, source-4). Since then, Goita has been at the helm of the transitional government, which has faced significant challenges, including calls for elections that have been postponed indefinitely (source-2).
Analysis
The claim that General Assimi Goita has led Mali since orchestrating two coups in 2020 and 2021 is substantiated by multiple reliable sources. Goita's leadership began with the first coup in August 2020, where he played a key role as the leader of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, the military junta that took control (source-2). His rise to power was marked by the second coup in May 2021, which he justified by alleging that the interim government was failing to consult him on critical decisions (source-2, source-5).
The credibility of the sources used to verify this claim is strong. Wikipedia entries on both the military junta and Assimi Goita provide well-sourced historical context and details about the events leading to his leadership. Additionally, news articles from BBC and AP News corroborate the timeline of events and Goita's role in them. These sources are recognized for their journalistic standards and fact-checking processes, lending further reliability to the information presented.
Conclusion
The verdict on the claim that General Assimi Goita has led Mali since orchestrating two coups in 2020 and 2021 is True. The evidence clearly shows that Goita's leadership began with the first coup in 2020 and was solidified by the second coup in 2021, after which he has remained in power as the interim president.
Sources
- Military junta - Wikipedia
- Assimi Goïta - Wikipedia
- Mali coup leader wins backing to be president for next five years
- Mali extends rule of junta leader Goita's rule by 5 years
- 2021 Malian coup d'état
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