Mali Crisis: AU Reacts As Soldiers Detain Prime Minister, President
Both the Malian Prime Minister, Boubou Cisse, and the President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, were on Tuesday, detained by soldiers.
The soldiers engaged in a mutiny.
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African Union Commission’s Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, confirmed this and condemned the development in a tweet.
“I energetically condemn the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the prime minister and other members of the Malian government and call for their immediate liberation.
“I strongly condemn any attempt at anti-constitutional change and call on the mutineers to cease all use of violence and respect for republican institutions”, he tweeted.
Recall that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) delegation led by former President Goodluck Jonathan had attributed the crisis bedevilling the country to governance.
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Mutiny is a form of rebellion, mostly by the military against the authorities.
Two security sources informed Reuters about the development on Tuesday.
“Soldiers had earlier in the day mutinied at the Kati military base about 15 km (9 miles) outside of Bamako and rounded up a number of senior civilian and military officials”, the source told Reuters.
Meanwhile, the Malian Prime minister, prior to his arrest, had in a statement, urged the perpetrators to stand down.
“The Government of the Republic of Mali is following with great attention the events that have been taking place since this morning in our country, especially in two military camps in the city of Bamako.
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“There is no problem of which the solution cannot be found in dialogue,” he said in a statement.
Gunfire was reportedly shot at the army base outside the capital, Bamako, early in the morning.
ECOWAS also urged the military to embrace dialogue.
