US restores some aid to Mali cut after coup Any eventual resumption of assistance to the Malian military will prioritise security sector reform, professional norms, the reassertion of civilian authority, accountability mechanisms, and the rule of law. President Keita, a 68-year-old veteran of the political scene in Bamako, will aim to lead the country out of a 17-month political crisis sparked by a military coup. He has pledged to unite Mali and end endemic corruption. The US pledged to "coordinate closely with our partners in the international community and with the newly-elected Malian government to support comprehensive and effective solutions that promote development and security throughout Mali," the statement said. The crisis last year was sparked when army officers, angry at the level of support they had received to combat a separatist Tuareg rebellion in the north, overthrew the democratically-elected government of President Amadou Toumani Toure. Keita's election in the August 11 poll was seen as crucial for unlocking more than $4 billion in aid promised by international donors who halted contributions in the wake of the coup.