Mali president forgives attackers

After a two-month stay in Paris for medical treatment, Mali’s interim president Dioncounda Traore returned to Bamako with tight security.

Traore, 70, was being treated after being attacked by a mob in his office but upon his return in the West African country, he said he forgave his attackers.

The president said that the Malian people were going through a tough time and were starved for unity, adding that he would be working on this fact.

Set to address the Malian nation on Sunday, armed men wearing masks were watching from rooftops upon his arrival to the airport where he was greeted by Prime Minister Cheick Modibo Diarra.

Diarra, who is currently faced with calls for his resignation by the main political parties, was also joined by ex-junta leader Captain Amadou Sanogo. Sanogo had led a 22 March rebellion which destroyed the previously established democracy into crisis.

Traore’s return is expected to represent an important step in directing Mali back toward a freely elected democratic government.