Mali Mutiny: Soldiers 'arrest' President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, PM Boubou Cisse

In an apparent coup attempt, Mali soldiers have arrested President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse and holding the two leaders hostage at a military camp near the capital Bamako.

According to international media reports, the apparent mutiny began on Tuesday, August 18 with the arrest of several ministers and high-ranking officers. It is believed that the mutiny is related to the financial grievances of the servicemen.

Read: China Slams Taiwan's Tsai Ing-wen For Opening Office In Self-declared Country Somaliland

Mali leaders 'arrested'

As the news broke, African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat tweeted in support of the arrested Mali leaders and condemned their arrest while calling for their immediate release.

Four disgruntled military officials are reportedly responsible for the mutiny and the Mali government has issued a statement wherein they have called for an open channel of communication with the rebels. 

According to reports, mass demonstrations are currently taking place on the streets of Mali’s capital. A spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has claimed that the UN chief is monitoring the developing conditions in Mali very closely.

Read: Somalia: Security Forces End Deadly Siege At Mogadishu Hotel; At Least 15 Dead

As per reports, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric has stated that “The Secretary-General calls on all Malians to preserve the integrity of the country’s democratic institutions, and we affirm that together with ECOWS, the African Union, the European Union and other partners, the United Nations will continue to accompany Malians in their efforts to consolidate peace and democracy”.

Civilians are reported to have surrounded Bamako’s independent monument, and a building owned Mali’s Minister of Justice has been set on fire and looted. The news of unrest in Mali’s capital was preceded by reports of an attempted mutiny in a military camp 15 kilometres from the city.

Mali President Keita has been facing growing public dissent in the country after the country’s top court overturned the results from a parliamentary election the results of which were disputed.

(With agency inputs)

Read: Israel And United Arab Emirates Sign Landmark Deal To Normalise Diplomatic Relations

Read: Mali Opposition Dismiss Latest Gesture By W. African Leaders