Political uncertainty in Mali

Political uncertainty and the spectre of violence continue to loom over the African nation of Mali, where a constitutional court is weighing whether a key provision can be applied, so as to allow for elections to proceed following a military coup d’etat and the weekend resignation of outgoing President Amadou Toumani Toure.

Under Mali’s constitution, it is the president of the national assembly who takes over for a maximum period of 40 days until elections can be organised after the presidency becomes vacant. According to the agreement signed on Friday of last week, however, the parties recognize that it will be impossible to abide by the 40-day limit under the circumstances. In addition to the country's political crisis, and closely connected with it at the root-level, is a separatist rebellion. Ethnic Tuareg militants now control the northern half of the country, and one faction of the rebels declared the zone independent last week.

In his Easter Sunday urbi et orbi address, Pope Benedict XVI described the situation in the country as “delicate,” and prayed for a return to peace and stability.

Mali’s ousted President Amadou Toumani Toure officially resigned on Sunday after spending more than more than two weeks in hiding after the presidential palace was attacked by soldiers on on March 21. He had been due to stand down soon anyway because he was reaching the end of his two-term maximum. The president of Mali’s national assembly, Dioncounda Traore, is due to be sworn in as president on Wednesday – though Traore is a divisive figure that several observers doubt has the ability to It's unclear if he has the backing to hold the country together through a transition and new elections. Listen to our report: