Fear has gripped residents of Bamako, capital of Mali, as reports indicate President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has been allegedly detained after several gunshots were heard at an army base in Kati, which is 15 kilometres from the capital.
This was disclosed by some security sources, according to Reuters on Tuesday.
Following the ongoing political crisis in Mali, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse issued a brief statement calling for dialogue and urging mutinous soldiers to stand down after they rounded up a number of senior civilian and military officials.
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Continent, world leaders frown at crisis
Earlier on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari had met former President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja.
Though the details of the meeting have not been disclosed one of the media aides of President Buhari, Bashir Ahmad’s comment on Twitter suggested the meeting was on how to tackle the on-going political unrest.
He said, “Dr. Jonathan had last month, led a team of ECOWAS Envoy to meet with the President over the recent political crisis in Mali.”
https://twitter.com/BashirAhmaad/status/1295731791509229569?s=20
Also, the United States, France, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have all condemned the mutiny.
ECOWAS on Tuesday stated that soldiers had launched a “mutiny” and urged them to immediately return to their barracks.
“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,” the 15-nation bloc said in a statement.
Back story: A mutiny in 2012 at the Kati base led to a military coup that toppled then-President, Amadou Toumani Toure and hastened the fall of Mali’s north to jihadist militants, who continue to operate across the north and centre of the West African country.
Keita has faced mass protests since June calling for his resignation over alleged corruption and worsening security.
This is a developing story…
