The Military officer at the back of the coup that ousted the leaders of the West African nation of Mali vowed on Wednesday to hold new elections as they backed the arrest and made resignation of the country’s democratically elected president.
The military said they acted Tuesday’s coup to avoid the Western African nation from “sinking into chaos,” and invited social and political activities to take part in creating the conditions for new elections.
The coup happened after more than two months of growing protests primarily focused on the capital, Bamako. The military mutinied on Tuesday, arresting ministers and the president, and soldiers were celebrating with crowds of young people who descended onto Bamako’s streets.
President Keïta resigned on Tuesday night saying he did not want “blood to be spilled to keep me in power”.
On Tuesday night, wearing a mask amid the coronavirus pandemic, Mr. Keïta resigned in a brief address on state television.
“If today, certain elements of our armed forces want this to end through their intervention, do I really have a choice?” he asked.
“I hold no hatred towards anyone, my love of my country does not allow me to,” he added. “May God save us.”
The plotters said the arrests of the president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, and the prime minister, Boubou Cissé, on Tuesday night were defended by years of poor governance, corruption, favoritism, and a worsening security situation.
“We are not keen on power, but we are keen on the stability of the country, which will allow us to organize general elections to allow Mali to equip itself with strong institutions within the reasonable time limit,” a spokesman for the military group calling itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People said in a TV address aired by the state broadcaster.
The African Union was among global and regional leaders who condemned the coup and voted to suspend Mali.
France and its Western allies who were previously supportive of Keita also condemned what they called a power grab.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Berlin “strongly condemns” the destabilizing “unconstitutional takeover” as the nation temporarily closed its embassy in Bamako.
Moscow, “We are closely following the developments in Mali and analyze the information coming from there,” “After the analysis is finished, we can give our assessment to the situation.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Wednesday, “The United States calls on all political and military actors to work toward a restoration of constitutional government.”
The UN Security Council is due to hold an emergency session to discuss the latest developments.