Photo: Mr. Ibrahim Aboubacar Keita. Pic Credit: Sourced from CGTN
Mali, located in West Africa, is currently undergoing a political unrest as Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced his resignation with immediately effect in the early hours of Wednesday, August 19, 2020, hours after being detained by mutinying soldiers. In an address on state television, the 75-year-old revealed that both the government and the national assembly would be dissolved after his resignation.
“I would like at this precise moment, while thanking the Malian people for their support throughout these long years and the warmth of their affection, to tell you of my decision to relinquish my duties,” – Keita said.
The announcement comes after rebel soldiers detained both Keita and the prime minister, Boubou Cisse, on Tuesday. It also comes after months of political tensions and sometimes-lethal protests in the Sahel state.
The president and the prime minister were detained on Tuesday after soldiers mutinied at the Kati army base outside of capital Bamako and rounded up a number of senior civilian and military officials. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it had decided to close its member states’ borders with Mali after its president was detained and it was also suspending all financial flows between its 15 members and Mali and suspending Mali from its decision-making bodies.
Photo: Malian military parade after president’s resignation. Pic Credit: Sourced from CGTN
The resignation was not voluntary and this came after he was held and roasted by military pressure to resign. Many Malians while responding to interview questions revealed that their President didn’t pay attention to their demands and that it was high time Mr. Boubacar left power. Mali is currently without a government and national assembly until further notice.
