Mali Transition Leaders Have Resigned – Military Junta Aide

Mali’s interim president and prime minister resigned as part of
mediation efforts Wednesday after being arrested in an apparent
second military coup in nine months, a top junta aide said.

President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, tasked with
steering the return to civilian rule after a coup last August, had
been held since Monday and resigned “before the mediator”, said
Baba Cisse, special advisor to junta boss Assimi Goita.

Cisse said negotiations were under way for their release and the
formation of a new government in the poor Sahel country.

A member of the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) mediation mission confirmed the president’s resignation to
AFP, requesting anonymity.

The team travelled early Wednesday to the Kati military camp
around 15 kilometres (nine miles) from the capital Bamako to visit
the two detainees.

Ndaw and Ouane had been heading the interim government with the
declared aim of restoring full civilian rule within 18 months.

Goita, who holds the rank of vice president in the transitional
government, accused Ndaw and Ouane of failing to consult him on a
reshuffle.

The UN Security Council was set to hold an emergency meeting
later Wednesday at the request of former colonial power France and
others.

On Monday, the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, the EU and
the United States issued a rare joint statement, attacking the
detention and demanding the release of Ndaw and Ouane.

Young military officers ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita
last August after weeks of demonstrations over perceived government
corruption and his handling of the jihadist insurgency.

-AFP

Mali’s interim president and prime minister resigned as part of
mediation efforts Wednesday after being arrested in an apparent
second military coup in nine months, a top junta aide said.

President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, tasked with
steering the return to civilian rule after a coup last August, had
been held since Monday and resigned “before the mediator”, said
Baba Cisse, special advisor to junta boss Assimi Goita.

Cisse said negotiations were under way for their release and the
formation of a new government in the poor Sahel country.

A member of the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) mediation mission confirmed the president’s resignation to
AFP, requesting anonymity.

The team travelled early Wednesday to the Kati military camp
around 15 kilometres (nine miles) from the capital Bamako to visit
the two detainees.

Ndaw and Ouane had been heading the interim government with the
declared aim of restoring full civilian rule within 18 months.

Goita, who holds the rank of vice president in the transitional
government, accused Ndaw and Ouane of failing to consult him on a
reshuffle.

The UN Security Council was set to hold an emergency meeting
later Wednesday at the request of former colonial power France and
others.

On Monday, the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, the EU and
the United States issued a rare joint statement, attacking the
detention and demanding the release of Ndaw and Ouane.

Young military officers ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita
last August after weeks of demonstrations over perceived government
corruption and his handling of the jihadist insurgency.

-AFP