Soldiers in Mali who ousted the country’s president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, say they plan to set up a civilian transitional government and hold fresh elections. The spokesman for the soldiers said they had acted to prevent the country from falling further into chaos.
President Keïta resigned on Tuesday night, saying he did not want “blood to be spilled to keep me in power”.
The UN Security Council condemned the “mutiny”, urging the immediate release of the president and his officials. All troops should “return to their barracks without delay”, it said.
The African Union (AU) earlier voted to suspend Mali.
Soldiers won’t stay in power
The military officers, who call themselves the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, said they do not intend to stay in power.
The group’s spokesman, Colonel Ismaël Wagué, said the military only aims to return the country to proper stability.
Wagué, who is the air force deputy chief of staff, noted that elections will be held soon so that a new leader can be elected.
“We are keen on the stability of the country, which will allow us to organise a general election to allow Mali to equip itself with strong institutions within a reasonable time limit,” he said in a statement televised on national television.
He called on civil and political groups in Mali to help create a “political transition leading to a credible general election for the exercise of democracy through a roadmap that will lay the foundations for a new Mali”.
Keïta’s resignation
President Keïta announced his resignation after the coup, insisting that he did not want blood to be spilled in Mali.
He was re-elected for a second term in 2018 but has since been accused of mass corruption and mismanagement of the economy.
Addressing Malians on state television, he said he had no choice other than to resign after the military takeover.
“If today, certain elements of our armed forces want this to end through their intervention, do I really have a choice?” he asked.
“I hold no hatred towards anyone, my love of my country does not allow me to … May God save us.”
E A Alanore
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