Bah Ndaw facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bah Ndaw
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Ndaw in 2021
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| Interim President of Mali | |
| In office 25 September 2020 – 24 May 2021 |
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| Prime Minister | Moctar Ouane (acting) |
| Vice President | Assimi Goïta |
| Preceded by | Assimi Goïta (Chairman) |
| Succeeded by | Assimi Goïta (acting) |
| Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs | |
| In office 28 May 2014 – 10 January 2015 |
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| President | Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta |
| Prime Minister | Moussa Mara |
| Preceded by | Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga |
| Succeeded by | Tiéman Hubert Coulibaly |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 August 1950 San, French Sudan (now Mali) |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Mali |
| Malian Air Force | |
| Years of service | 1973–2012 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Alma mater | École Militaire Interarmes, Koulikoro École de guerre |
Bah Ndaw (born August 23, 1950) is a retired military officer and politician from Mali. He served as the President of Mali for a short time, from September 2020 to May 2021. During this period, he led an interim government. Before becoming president, he was Mali's Minister of Defense.
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Early Life and Education
Bah Ndaw was born on August 23, 1950, in a town called San, Mali. In 1973, he joined the Malian Armed Forces as a volunteer. The same year, he graduated from the Joint Military School in Koulikoro. To further his training, he went to the Soviet Union in 1974 to learn how to fly helicopters.
Military and Political Career
In 1977, Ndaw became a member of the Malian Air Force. He once worked as a special assistant to Mali's President Moussa Traoré. However, he left this job in 1990 because he disagreed with the president's wife getting involved in government matters.
Under President Alpha Oumar Konaré, Ndaw served as the deputy chief of staff for the Malian Air Force from 1992 to 2002. In 1994, he completed his studies at the École de guerre in Paris, France. By 2003, Ndaw became the chief of staff for the Malian Air Force. He also held a position as deputy chief of staff for the Malian National Guard. From 2008 until his retirement in 2012, he led the office for veterans' affairs. He retired with the rank of Colonel-major.
On May 28, 2014, Ndaw became the Minister of Defense under President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. While in this role, he signed a defense agreement with France. He also worked on making changes to the Malian Armed Forces. In January 2015, when Modibo Keita became Prime Minister, Ndaw left his position. This was reportedly due to disagreements over how former soldiers who had left the army would be brought back.
Transitional Interim President
On September 21, 2020, after a military takeover a few weeks earlier, Bah Ndaw was chosen as the interim president by a group of 17 electors. Assimi Goïta was appointed as the vice president. Their temporary government was planned to lead Mali for 18 months after the coup. Many leaders in Mali supported his appointment.
Ndaw officially became president on September 25. When he took office, he decided not to give his wife the title of First Lady. This was to prevent his family members from getting involved in public affairs. As president, Ndaw promised to fight against corruption and to respect international agreements. He also said he would continue the fight against terrorist groups and protect civilians from harm by the Malian armed forces.
A transition cannot do everything. It must set priorities. Public money is sacred and I will ensure that it is spent, in a traceable and reasonable way.
I can't promise zero corruption but I will do everything to make zero impunity the norm. The proper management of our resources, of our meagre resources is, in fact, an obligation. This will be a project of the transition.
After Ndaw became president, the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Jean-Claude Brou, stated that ECOWAS would only stop its economic restrictions against Mali if a civilian Prime Minister was appointed. On September 27, Ndaw named Moctar Ouane as the Prime Minister.
During his time as president, there were disagreements between his government and the military. This led to rebel soldiers arresting President Keïta and Prime Minister Cissé. An opposition group called M5, which had led protests against the previous president, asked for the interim government to be replaced. On May 14, the government announced plans for a new, broader cabinet.
On May 24, 2021, Ndaw and Ouane were detained by the military and taken to a military base near Mali's capital, Bamako. The next day, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for their immediate release. On May 26, Ndaw announced his resignation.
After the Presidency
On August 27, 2021, Bah Ndaw was released from house arrest. An international committee, including representatives from ECOWAS and the African Union, had pushed for his release. They welcomed the decision when it happened.
Awards and Honors
Bah Ndaw has received several honors for his service. He is an officer of the National Order of Mali. He has also been awarded the Medal of Military Merit and the Medal of National Merit.
Images for kids
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Ndaw in 2021
See also
In Spanish: Ba N'Daou para niños
