- I Resigned Because I Don’t Want Bloodshed, Says Keita
- As ECOWAS Suspends Mali
The Tuesday’s military coup in Mali that brought down President Boubacar Keita-led government was primarily led by two colonels: Sadio Camara and Malick Diaw.
According to a Malian journalist, Seydou Oumar Traoré, Camara was the ex-director of the military Prytaneum of Kati who has just returned from training in Russia.
Malick Diaw is the Chief of Staff of the 3rd Military Region of Kati. According to reports, Lieutenant-Colonel Mama Seku Lelenta has also been fingered in the coup plot.
As of the time of this reporting, it was not clear how many senior officers were involved in the coup. But Brigadier General Cheick Fanta Mady Dembélé was being mentioned.
The coup plotters on Tuesday had stormed Malian capital, Bamako, from their Kati base, arresting many senior officials serving in the Keita-goverment.
The officials were arrested alongside President Keita and prime minister Boubou Cisse.
Among the people being held are the Chief of Staff of the National Guard and his Administrative and Financial Director (DAF), Abdoulaye Daffé, Minister of the Economy and Finance, and Tiebilé Dramé, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Also, Moussa Timbine, President of the National Assembly is also in their hands.
Following the coup, the military leaders in the West African country have extended an invitation to opposition groups, calling for reforms and talks leading to fresh elections.
“Civil society and political social movements are invited to join us to create together the best conditions for a civil political transition leading to credible general elections for the exercise of democracy through a road-map that will lay the foundations for a new Mali,” Malian Air Force deputy chief of staff, Col-Major Ismaël Wagué said in a televised address, Wednesday morning.
A member of Mali’s opposition group, M5 movement – which held protests against former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta for the last few weeks, has termed his resignation as a “relief”.
Prof Ramata Sissoko Cisse told the BBC World Service from Georgia in the US that Mr Keïta had lost the backing of the people.
“I think it’s a relief for the Malian people and for all the citizens of Mali to finally hear from the president that because of the lack of support of the Malian people he finally accepts to resign, to give back power to the people who originally gave it to him and I think the people of Mali are very relieved today,” he said.
President Keita’s resignation followed months of civil unrest occasioned by mass protests.
The President while announcing his resignation on state-owned TV, ORTM said he had little choice but to stand down to avoid bloodshed.
“For seven years I have with great joy and happiness tried to put this country back on its feet,” Keita said wearing a blue surgical mask.
“If today some people from the armed forces have decided to end it by their intervention, do I have a choice? I should submit to it because I don’t want any blood to be shed.” He added.
Meanwhile, Mali has been suspended from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decision making bodies with immediate effect.
ECOWAS decision follows the Tuesday’s forceful takeover of government in the country by the military.
The coupists have also been denied all kinds of legitimacy by the regional body, who demanded the immediate release of President Keita still in detention.
