Mali’s Interim President Survives An Attempted Assassination

Mali’s interim President Assimi Goita was the target of an attempted stabbing on Tuesday, 20 July. The attack occurred at the Grand Mosque in the capital, Bamako, marking the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. The attacker was quickly subdued by authorities. He posed as an usher at the mosque. Colonel Assimi Goita is the interim President of the Transition. The Colonel was the leader of two coups in a nine-month period. He was sworn in as the transitional president on 7 June. This ruling did not sit well with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The ECOWAS wanted the transition, due to end in February, to remain in civilian hands.

Mali, once called French Sudan, is in a state of unrest, and is involved in a regional fight against Islamists militants in the north and central parts of the country. Mali’s neighbors do not want to see the presidential election in February undermined in any way. Later, on Tuesday, Goita quickly announced that he was doing “very well.” He went on to add, “That’s part of being a leader, there are always malcontents. There are people who at any time may want to try things to cause instability.” Mali has experience political instability since 2012 When mutinous soldiers overthrew the president of a decade. Extremists affiliated with al-Qaeda and ISIS have stoked animosity and violence between the different ethnic groups.

Let us pray fervently for:

  • The February presidential election to take place without violence and in a judicial manner (The Bible, 1 Timothy 2:1-4).
  • The minority of Christian Believers to earnestly pray to Almighty God for peace for their nation and for a peaceful election in February (The Bible, 2 Chronicles 7:13-14).
  • Interim President Goita to accept the outcome of the election without further violence and bloodshed, especially if the outcome results in a return to a civilian presidency (The Bible, Psalm 7:16).

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