Mali PM promises an ‘open’ government amid mass protests

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 02:39 pm

Malian Prime Minister Boubou Cisse promised to rapidly form a government “open to facing the challenges of the day,” adding the death toll from the country’s unrest had risen to four.

Violence broke out at mass protests in the capital Bamako on Friday demanding President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resign over a long-running conflict, and economic woes.

“The president and I remain open to dialogue. I will very quickly set up an executive with the intention of being open to facing the challenges of the day,” Cisse said while visiting a hospital.

Demonstrators attacked parliament and ransacked the national television station.

Cisse has been prime minister since last year and Keita reappointed him on June 11 following parliamentary elections in March and April that sparked a movement calling for Keita to go.

Months after the elections, the West African country still has no government.

Keita has increasingly tried to appease a newly formed opposition movement, opening the door to forming a national unity government.

The opposition has rejected his attempts, insisting he step down.

(CGTN)