Mali is amidst fresh crisis as popular opposition movement has rejected a charter for a transition government backed by the ruling army officers who ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

After a three-day forum with political parties and civil-society representatives, the military junta backed a charter for an 18-month transition government on Saturday. But the June 5 Movement, which took part in the talks, later rejected the roadmap in a statement, and accused the junta of a “desire to monopolise and confiscate power,” also saying that the discussions had taken place against a backdrop of “intimidation, antidemocratic and unfair practices worthy of another era.”

The June 5 Movement said conclusions from forum working groups were not reflected in the final document, pointing to broad support for a civilian transition president as an example.

A committee chosen by the junta, which was overseeing the talks, adopted the final version of the charter by acclamation on Saturday.

The committee’s rapporteur had told delegates that either a civilian or a military officer can become transition president.

An earlier version of the charter seen on Saturday stipulated that a junta-appointed committee would pick the transition president, raising questions about the military’s influence.