Leaders of Mali’s Military have released interim President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane from detention. There release followed the intervention from former President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria. Dr Jonathan is the mediator of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Mali.
The former President had travelled to Bamako on Tuesday to meet with the Military leaders and other stakeholders after the sudden turn of events in the transition process that led to the detention of the two leaders by the Military under the control of Vice President Colonel Assimi Goita.
The Mediator and his team had, on Wednesday, obtained the commitment of the Military leaders to release Ndaw and Ouane, after visiting them at Kati Barracks, near Bamako where they were being held, to ascertain their health condition.
Before visiting the President and Prime Minister in detention Jonathan had met with Colonel Goita where he demanded their unconditional release and urged the authorities to maintain peace and stability which, according to him, are key to the conduct of the transitional process.
The release of President Ndaw and Prime Minister Ouane early Thursday morning came three days after they were detained and stripped of their powers. This was nine months after they were appointed to lead the Transition Government.
They had been heading the Interim Government under the Transition Charter with the aim of restoring full Civilian Rule within 18 months.
“The Interim President and Prime Minister were released overnight around 1.30am. We were true to our word,” an official of the transition government told newsmen while speaking on condition of anonymity. Family members confirmed that the two men had returned to their homes in the capital Bamako.
