Mali: Soldiers Kick Out President As ECOWAS Mediation Fails

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The Malian Armed Forces have finally put an end to the regime of President Ibrahim Boubacar  Kaita whose plot to stay in power triggered a public outrage since June, with large protesters, under the aegis of June 5 demanding he stepped down from power.

A group of mutinous soldiers, on Tuesday arrested the Malian leader, Prime Minister Boubou Cissé  and other top officials of his government, thus ending his eight year reign. He came to power in 2013.

President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier met in Aso Rock, Presidential Villa, Abuja, former President Goodluck Jonathan, the leader of ECOWAS peace mission to Mali, who informed him that the mediation has failed.

The leader of the coup DW, a German state owned medium said is one Colonel Sadio Camara, even though the magazine is yet to independently this.

The ousted leader came to office eight years ago after President DioncoundaToure, his predecessor was forced out.

The crisis that led to Kaita’s ouster started two months ago after he was accused of rigging the parliamentary election in favour of some candidates.

The protesters also demanded his resignation for failure to put an end to activities of Alqaeda and ISIL who control parts of the Sahel country.

But he had remained in power through the help of ECOWAS leaders who tried to mediate in an aborted power sharing deal among feuding parties in the country.

The regional body has now urged the military to “return to their positions without delay” few hours after soldiers took over Bamako, the capital.

The African Union has also condemned the forceful take-over of power, urging the military to respect the country’s constitutional democracy.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairman of the African Union Commission, has demanded the immediate release of President Keita and his prime minister.

The AU chair said “I strongly condemn the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the Prime Minister and other members of the Malian Government and call for their immediate release, adding that the Union oppose any “attempt at anti-constitutional change and call on the mutineers to cease all use of violence and respect for republican institutions.”

France, United States of America, USA and European Union, EU have also condemned the coup attempt, urging the military to negotiate with political leaders on how to restore peace.

“The United States opposes any extra-constitutional change of government, whether by those on the streets or by the defense and security forces,” said J. Peter Pham, the U.S. special envoy to the Sahel.