The military seized power in August 2020 and has been under pressure to return the country to democratic rule.

Regional body Ecowas had last month asked the junta to limit the transition period to between 12 and 16 months when elections should be held.

Prime Minister Choguel Maïga cited the global economic outlook, the Covid pandemic and the economic embargo imposed on the country as reasons for the lengthy transitions.

On Thursday, he told the National Council of the Transition, the legislative body, that the coming months would be used to establish a body to manage elections, develop election material, train electoral agents and review the electoral roll.