Mali’s military takes over power, promises fresh elections

The Malian military, which ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta from power, has announced plans to set up a transitional government for new elections.

Keita resigned from office and dissolved parliament hours after he was arrested by mutinying soldiers.

The ousted president said he resigned to avoid bloodshed, announcing the dissolution of the government and the national assembly.

“If it pleased certain elements of our military to decide this should end with their intervention, do I really have a choice?” he said in a state broadcast.

“I must submit to it because I don’t want any bloodshed.”

The military later ordered the closure of all border crossings and imposed a night-time curfew.

In a state broadcast on Wednesday, the coup leaders, who identified themselves as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, declared their intention to form a civilian transitional government and promised “a reasonable timeline” for holding new elections.

Ismael Wague, air force deputy chief of staff, said they acted to prevent the country from falling into more chaos.

He invited Mali’s civil society and political movements to join them to create conditions for a political transition that would lead to fresh elections.

He said the officers have “decided to take responsibility in front of the people and of history”.

“Our country is sinking into chaos, anarchy, and insecurity mostly due to the fault of the people who are in charge of its destiny,” Wague said.

“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.”

Following Keita’s ousting, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Mali from the organisation.

ECOWAS asked all its members to close land and air borders to Mali, saying sanctions will be meted out against “all the putschists and their partners and collaborators”.