On 21 September Goïta was named vice president by a group of 17 electors, with
Bah Ndaw being appointed president.[14][13] He was appointed vice president of the Transition on 21 September 2020,[15] a position he was to have held for 18 months, until new elections.[13] He took the oath of office on 25 September 2020.[16][17] On 1 October 2020, the "Mali Transition Letter" was published where it was specified, in response to the request of
ECOWAS, that the vice president "in charge of defense and security issues" would not be able to replace President Bah Ndaw.[18]
Second coup d'état and interim presidency (2021–present)
On 24 May 2021, Goïta was involved in the
2021 Malian coup d'état, after which he seized power. President Ndaw and Prime Minister
Moctar Ouane were detained. Goïta claimed that Ndaw was attempting to "sabotage" the transition to democracy, and committed to elections in 2022. The coup was instigated by Goïta's claim that Ndaw failed to consult him about a cabinet reshuffle.[19][2] It was alleged that one of the motives for the latest coup was the removal of Colonel
Sadio Camara as defense minister. Camara was reinstated as defense minister by Goïta following his takeover.[20]
On 28 May 2021, the constitutional court declared him interim president of Mali. The court ruling stated that Goïta should carry the title "president of the transition, head of state" to "lead the transition process to its conclusion". On the same day, he said that he would name a prime minister from the M5-RFP coalition.[3][4]Choguel Kokalla Maïga was eventually nominated to form a cabinet.[21]
On 23 June 2023 a
constitutional referendum took place, with 97% of voters supporting the adoption of the proposed constitution. 39.4% of registered voters participated in the referendum.[22] The new constitution was controversial, with critics alleging that the referendum was compromised and that the new constitution would make democratic reforms less likely.[23]
On 25 July 2023, it was announced that Goïta had pardoned 46
soldiers from
Ivory Coast that had been sentenced in December 2022.[24]
In July 2023, Goïta attended the
2023 Russia–Africa Summit in Saint Petersburg and met with Russian President
Vladimir Putin.[25] The day after the summit ended, Goïta met with Putin again to discuss Russia's ongoing economic and humanitarian support for Mali. During the meeting, Goïta accused countries sanctioning Mali of engaging in a "neocolonialist practice".[26]
In October 2023, Goïta engaged in a phone call with Putin, his third in less than two months, in which they discussed trade and security relations. Goïta later publicly "expressed [his] gratitude for all the support that Russia provides to Mali."[28]
The annual Colonel Assimi Goïta Super Cup football tournament, which was launched in 2021, is named after him.[29][30]
Assassination attempt
On 20 July 2021, Goïta was attacked by a knifeman while praying at the
Grand Mosque in
Bamako amid festivities for the
Eid al-Adha.[31] The attacker was then immediately arrested after failing to stab the President.[32] Overall two men were arrested by the security forces.[33] One of them was however found to be a special forces soldier wrongly assumed to be the attacker's accomplice.[34] The knifeman, identified as a teacher, died in custody five days after the attack. The cause of death is unknown.[35]