The situation in Mali seems to be becoming more regularised.

On 6 April the coup leaders agreed a deal with the negotiators from the Communauté économique des Etats d’Afrique de l’Ouest (ECOWAS in English) to restore power to civilians. This provoked a lifting of the sanctions that had been imposed on Mali.

On Sunday 8 April, the ousted president, Amadou Toumani Touré (ATT), is reported to have officially resigned. This was part of the deal with the coup leaders.

ATT’s resignation means that the president of the National Assembly, Dioncounda Traoré, will become acting president. An acting prime minister will now be named. This interim team will be in charge of organising elections.

Generally, it seems as if constitutional order is being restored. That said, given rebels now seem to be in control of half of the country, it will be difficult to organise proper elections in Mali as a whole.