Military coup leader dismisses civilian heads of transitional gov’t
Bamako, May 25 (EFE).- Mali’s transitional government has been derailed just 10 months after it was created following another coup to oust its president Bah Ndaw and prime minister Moctar Ouane.
The vice president of the transitional government, colonel Assimi Goita, who led last August’s coup to overthrow president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, confirmed he had dismissed both political figures although insisted the West African country was still on track to hold elections in 2022.
He stressed the Malian army’s commitment to defending the security of the country, but he did not provide information about the whereabouts of the detained or immediate plans.
The ousted Ndaw and Ouane were reportedly taken to a military camp outside the capital Bamako late Monday.
In a statement read on national TV, Goita called on Malians not to let the events interrupt their lives.
He added that the decision came after a months-long national crisis in Mali, which has included a series of strikes and demonstrations.
The arrest of Ndaw and Ouane came hours after the new government formed by the prime minister was revealed. According to several sources, the new cabinet upset military leaders as it excluded two commanders.
The United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres issued a statement, saying: “I am deeply concerned by news of detention of civilian leaders of the Malian transition. I call for calm & their unconditional release.”EFE
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