West African leaders had suggested forming a new unity government to resolve an election dispute that has sparked outrage. By Monday evening, Keita had already appointed a stripped-down government with the intention to recruit opposition members. NOT GOING TO RESIGNKeita, in power since 2013, has come under increasing pressure to resolve Mali's brutal eight-year-old jihadist revolt, and kickstart the slumping economy. Protests ratcheted up into a crisis on July 10 when an anti-Keita rally organised by the June 5 Movement turned violent. - Storm clouds -Wednesday's rejection marks at least the fourth time that Mali's opposition has rebuffed efforts at compromise, raising the spectre of further unrest.

Source: Daily Nation July 30, 2020 04:41 UTC