Mali releases former interim president and PM from house detention

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 07:55 am

Former Malian interim president Bah Ndaw and prime minister Moctar Ouane have been released from house arrest – confirmed West African bloc ECOWAS on Friday.

In a released statement, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it “welcomes” the step by Mali to release “all restrictive measures” on the former leaders.

Both of them, in August 2020, were appointed as interim civilian leaders after a coup and were charged with steering the country back towards civilian rule.

After a government reshuffle in May, Mali’s Colonel Assimi Goita deposed Ouane and Ndaw in another coup. Goita later declared himself as the interim president.

Aides to Ouane and Ndaw had confirmed that the two leaders had been retained under house arrest after their removal.

Malian authorities or their representatives have not commented on the development as yet.

The political upheaval cautioned regional allies and powers such as France – fearing they could delay a guaranteed return to civilian rule via democratic polls scheduled for February 2022.

Related Posts

However, there are severe doubts about whether the government will convene the elections within such a short timeframe in the light of rampant violence across Mali.

The state has struggled to stop an armed uprising that first broke out in the north in 2012. The violence has since spread to the core of the country and neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso.

Thousands of civilians and soldiers have been killed in the conflict to date.

ECOWAS, on Friday, said that the two should have all the rights as they deserve according to their roles as the former president and the former prime minister. Both had appealed against their detention to the ECOWAS Court of Justice – which in turn demanded that Mali justify their detention.

The lifting of restrictions follows an appeal by both of them. 

Since they were dismissed in May, neither Ouane nor Ndaw has publicly spoken.

Albert Echetah

Recent Posts

Africa and GCC Trade Doubles to $121 Billion

Trade between African and GCC countries stands at $ 121 billion in 2023, double of what it was in 2016.…

December 21, 2024

Families in Mayotte rebuilding their homes complain of lack of help

Family members struggling after one week after  of Cyclone Chido ripped through the French island territory of Mayotte expressed helplessness…

December 21, 2024

Ethiopian PM Inaugurates UAE-Funded Orphanage in Oromia

The United Arab Emirates has launched its orphanage project in Ethiopia's Oromia region on the orders of President Sheikh Mohamed…

December 21, 2024

A Rising Femicide Threat, Kenya’s Call to End Gender Based Violence

In just four months, 100 women have been killed, the majority by males they knew including spouses. Prime Cabinet Secretary…

December 20, 2024

Actor C Confion has passed away

The Ghanaian entertainment industry is in deep mourning following the sudden death of Bright Owusu, better known as C Confion.…

December 20, 2024

South Africa: 512 Accident Deaths and 941 Arrested for Drunk Driving Just on December Month

Since the beginning of December more than five hundred people have lost their lives on the nation's highways. Barbara Creecy,…

December 19, 2024

This website uses cookies.