Mali junta confirms resignation of detained President and PM

The military leadership in Mali said that detained President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane have resigned, completing a second military takeover within nine months in the West African country.

A spokesman for coup leader Colonel Assimi Goita on Wednesday said that the two leaders tendered their resignation on the same day, two days after they were taken into custody.

Mr Ndaw and Mr Ouane were detained on Monday after angering the military leadership with the composition of a new government following a cabinet reshuffle.

The newly appointed government was effectively dissolved by the resignation of the president and PM, according to local media reports.

The development comes amidst pressure on the junta to release the detained leaders and restore the country to democratic rule.

The current political crisis in the war-torn country started in August 2020 after Goita led a coup that ousted former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Following the coup, there was pressure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other international organisations, leading to a transition administration, headed by Mr Ndaw, who is a retired army officer, and Mr Ouane as Prime Minister.

Goita was Vice President of the transition team.

His action on Monday was provoked by the decision of the civilian leadership to drop key military leaders from the new administration.

Economic sanctions
An ECOWAS  delegation, led by former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, visited Mali on Wednesday to press the military to release the leaders and continue with the transition plan.

ECOWAS has reportedly threatened to reinstate sanctions on the junta if it fails to do so.

Jonathan and his delegation were scheduled to meet with the detained president and PM at a military barracks outside Bamako where they are currently being held.

The UN, EU and US have all condemned the military action.

Former colonial power, France, also threatened action against the junta. French President Emmanuel Macron said he was prepared to impose targeted sanctions over what he called “a coup within a coup”.

The UN Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis, called by France, Niger, Tunisia, Kenya and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Edited by Olajumoke Adeleke