As part of a compromise projected to ease the country's months-long political crisis, Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has appointed nine judges to the Constitutional Court by decree.

Note that the Sahel nation is in the midst of a political bottleneck between Keita and increasingly strident opposition intent on securing his resignation. Just in the month of July, 11 people died over three days of turmoil following an anti-Keita protest in the worst political strife Mali has witnessed in years.

In a bid to savage the situation, Heads of government from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on July 27 stepped in and suggested the formation of a new unity government to include opposition members, while sticking by Keita. It also urged the appointment of new judges to the Constitutional Court to resolve a festering election dispute, among other measures.

However, Mali's June 5 opposition Movement has repeatedly spurned the ECOWAS proposal and continues to demand the resignation of the 75-year-old president's.

Recall that much of Mali's current tension was sparked in April, when the Constitutional Court tossed out 30 results from long-delayed parliamentary elections which served as a move that benefitted Keita's party but triggered protests.

Keita has today appointed in the nine judges with officials from Mali';s presidency revealing that the judges will be sworn in on Monday.

Meanwhile, opposition figures appear unlikely to back out as the June 5 Movement has today said it would stage nationwide anti-Keita demonstrations on Tuesday.