Mali’s constitutional court on Friday named the country’s coup leader, Colonel Assimi Goïta, as its transitional president.
The court said the decision was due to the “vacancy in the presidency”.
Goïta had on Wednesday declared himself interim president two days after seizing power in Mali’s second coup in nine months.
He also led the coup last August that forced elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta out of office.
Goita had on Monday detained interim President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane. They were released on Thursday after resigning.
He said he seized power because he was not consulted before the reshuffled cabinet that failed to name two prominent military officers as members, including himself.
“We had to choose between disorder and cohesion within the defence and security forces, and we chose cohesion,” he said.
Goita said a new prime minister would be appointed within days, and that elections would still go ahead next year as planned, AFP reports.
