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Mali's President Keita reshuffles government

Friday, 08 July 2016 2:24 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 08 July 2016 5:26 PM ]

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (AFP)

Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has reshuffled his government, introducing a former rebel and eight other ministers.

Prime Minister Modibo Keita will continue to lead the new government of 34 ministers, two more than the previous one.

According to a presidential statement issued on Friday, Nina Wallet Intalou will take up the post of minister of tourism and artisanal crafts.

Wallet Intalou is a member of the Coordination of Azawad Movements, a coalition of autonomy-minded groups including ethnic Arabs and Tuaregs known by its French language acronym CMA.

In 2012, Tuareg rebel groups seized control of northern Mali, which they call Azawad. However, al-Qaeda-linked militants took control shortly afterward. Then, France's military intervened in Mali, its former colony. Since the al-Qaeda's move, the impoverished West African country has been in turmoil.

On May 23, 2014, Tuareg rebels agreed to a ceasefire deal with the government.

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali was deployed in July 2013 to bring calm. The mission, however, has become a target for attacks since its deployment.

Eight other new ministers will serve in the new government. Mamadou Ismael Konate, a human-rights lawyer, will take the post of justice minister, and Mohamed Ali Ag Ibrahim will be in charge of the newly-created ministry of industrial development.

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