CUPP Backs Resignation Of Malian President

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has backed the resignation of the Malian President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, following a military coup on Tuesday.

Soldiers had seized Keita from his home following months of protests demanding his ouster.

There was widespread jubilation by anti-government demonstrators, but colonial master, France and other allies were alarmed by the development.

CUPP in a statement by its spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, also welcomed the dissolution of the country’s parliament.

According to Ugochinyere, who is also the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the West African Opposition Spokesman Forum,  it is unfortunate Keita was “willing to drag his country into anarchy just because he wanted to cling to power despite being unpopular with his citizens.”

The CUPP spokesman called on the people of the country to remain vigilant until democracy is restored with the conduct of early elections and the immediate release of kidnapped opposition leader who has been in captivity for about five months.

He said CUPP aligned its position with the West African opposition spokespersons, who in their meeting welcomed the resignation of the president and advised other African leaders not to continue taking their people for granted and abuse their office as Keita did.

He expressed optimism that the leaders of the new regime in Mali would enact a transition process that would lead to early election before stability can be fully restored in the country.

“We urge the MS-RFP opposition along with the June 5 movement (named after the date of its first protest) to ensure that the opposition family remains one in Mali until democracy is fully restored, the dying economy revived and the growing power of the terrorist groups and armed killer groups that have taken over large areas of the country are destroyed,” he added.

He said CUPP will continue to monitor the situation in Mali in solidarity with the people.

Keita, who was democratically elected in 2013 and reelected five years later, was left with few choices after soldiers seized weapons from the armory in the garrison town of Kati and advanced on the capital of Bamako.

The Prime Minister, Boubou Cisse, was also taken into custody by the soldiers along with the president.

The political crisis in the country followed months of turmoil after disputed legislative elections.

It also came as a result of declining support for Keita amid criticism of his government’s handling of the insurgency, which has engulfed a country once praised as a model of democracy in the region.