The President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has announced his resignation. The announcement was made few hours after he and his Prime Minister were apprehended by mutinous soldiers in a suspected coup.
The 75-year-old President and his Prime Minister, Boubou Cisse were apprehended by mutinying soldiers recently at Keita’s house in Bamako after months of massive protests.
Keita announced his instant resignation and disbanded the national assembly and government of Mali.
While speaking on ORTM, Boubacar said he had little choice but to stand down to avert bloodshed.
He said: “For seven years I have with great joy and happiness tried to put this country back on its feet. If today some people from the armed forces have decided to end it by their intervention, do I have a choice? I should submit to it because I don’t want any blood to be shed.”
Before he resigned, there was total anger over corruption, mismanagement of the economy, and the deteriorating security situation as jihadist and communal violence were gaining more prominence.
Keita served as Mali’s President between 2013 and August 2020. He also served as Prime Minister of Mali between 1994 and 2000 and was President of the National Assembly of Mali between 2002 and 2007.
