The constitutional court in Mali has named Colonel Assimi Goita, leader of the post-coup junta, as the country’s transitional president. The judgement stipulates that Goita should “lead the transition process to its conclusion,” following his seizure of power earlier this week.

The constitutional court said it had made the decision due to the “vacancy in the presidency” following the resignation of caretaker president Bah Ndaw.

Soldiers detained Ndaw and prime minister Moctar Ouane on Monday, before releasing them Thursday after they agreed to resign.

The twin arrests triggered a diplomatic uproar – and marked Mali’s second military coup within a year.

Ndaw and Ouane had led a transitional government tasked with organising the return to civilian rule after a coup last August that toppled Mali’s elected president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.