Mali announces first post-war government

[Robb]

Source: AFP

BAMAKO — Mali's first post-war prime minister has appointed a cabinet featuring a number of old hands and a new ministry charged with reconciliation in the conflict-scarred west African nation, according to a government decree published on Sunday.

Oumar Tatam Ly, named as head of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita's government last week, appointed 34 ministers and deputy ministers including a number of politicians who had held portfolios in previous regimes.

A new Department of National Reconciliation and Northern Development, headed by diplomat Cheick Oumar Diarrah, will be charged with healing the scars of an Islamist insurgency which followed a coup last year, and with improving conditions in the impoverished north.

In another nod to the need for national unity, the foreign ministry goes to Zahibi Ould Sidi Mohamed, a member of the Arab minority and a one-time leader of a rebel movement in the northern desert.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iZJfF84PuNju0A2zsZUeG4a2_4qA?docId=CNG.0130284234264557d2aadc70edcb0445.171

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Good luck to all. US aid is resuming, they've got a lot of work to do.

[bhikkhu]

1. Best of luck to them

That was a speedy recovery to a functional government, and I hope it works out for the best. Plenty of credit to go around within Mali itself, but the French deserve much praise for their good work as well.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

2. Nothing will bring back the shrines the Tureng destroyed in Tombucktou

Best of luck to them. Hopefully, Niger, Cameroon, Nigeria and Mali can destroy Boko Harem!