Mutinying soldiers in Mali have reportedly arrested President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse amid ongoing leadership crisis.
According to a leader in the country who spoke with AFP anonymously said; “We can tell you that the president and the prime minister are under our control.”
He added that the pair had been “arrested” at Keita’s residence in the capital, Bamako on Tuesday morning, August 18.
The soldiers began action after firing shot inside a key military base, some 15km (nine miles) from Bamako.
In the centre of Bamako, young men looted a government-owned building and set it on fire. The unrest coincides with calls for more protests to demand that the president resign.
Keita won a second term in elections in 2018, but there is widespread anger over corruption, the mismanagement of the economy and the worsening security situation with jihadist and communal violence on the increase.
It is not yet clear how many soldiers have taken part in the mutiny. Some reports say it was fuelled by a pay dispute.
Another military official, who also declined to be named, said the president and prime minister were in an armoured vehicle en route to Kati.
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) urged the mutineers to return to barracks. The mutiny has been condemned by regional group ECOWAS and former colonial power, France.
The statement said;
This mutiny comes at a time when, for several months now, Ecowas has been taking initiatives and conducting mediation efforts with all the Malian parties.
Speaking, France’s Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian said France condemned “in the strongest terms this serious event” and he too urged soldiers to return to barracks.
Many Malians gathered in the capital on Tuesday in support of the soldiers, celebrating the arrest of the leaders.
See some videos below;
Coup in progress in Mali to bring an end to the French-backed administration of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
The protesters whose movement led to the coup want the end of France’s influence in the country. pic.twitter.com/BF43NcEIUi
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) August 18, 2020
The President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and the Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga have been arrested by Mutineering soldiers after months of public protest. pic.twitter.com/6xYWuOZNhm
— Unu Amaro Kam Siri Kwado (@AfamDeluxo) August 18, 2020
Sights and sounds from #Mali pic.twitter.com/NMCyipQkJD
— African (@ali_naka) August 18, 2020
