A retired colonel was sworn in as Mali's interim president on Friday, tasked with presiding over an 18-month transition back to civilian rule. Bah Ndaw, 70, also served as defense minister in 2014 and previously headed the air force, Reuters reported. He took the oath of office, in front of several hundred military officers, political leaders and diplomats. Colonel Assimi Goita, was sworn in as vice president, during a ceremony in Bamako.