DAKAR (SENEGAL) – Mali troops who staged a coup on Wednesday, leading to the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and his government said they plan to form a civilian transitional government which will be tasked with organising fresh elections.
Late on Tuesday, Keita resigned and dissolved parliament. This came hours after soldiers detained him at gunpoint. This has plunged Mali, plagued by Jihadi unrest and mass protests, deeper into crisis.
A spokesman for the mutineers, who call themselves National Committee for the Salvation of the People, said in a statement broadcast on state television that they had decided to act to stop the nation from falling further into chaos.
Accompanied by soldiers spokesman Colonel Ismael Wague civil society and political outfits to join them to pave the way for a political transition, leading to polls.
“Our country is sinking into chaos, anarchy and insecurity mostly due to the fault of the people who are in charge of its destiny,” he said.
Mali’s partners in West Africa and overseas have condemned the military coup as they fear Keita’s fall could further destabilise the former colony of France.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field
