Mali’s coup leaders want military rule for three years, agree to free president

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 08:38 am

The junta that seized strength in Mali wants a military-led transitional physique to rule for three years and has agreed to release ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, a supply in a travelling West African delegation said Sunday.

“The junta has affirmed that it wishes a three-year transition to evaluate the foundations of the Malian state. This transition will be directed by a body led via a soldier, who will also be head of state,” a supply in the ECOWAS delegation in capital Bamako instructed KnowAfrika.

“The government will additionally be predominantly composed of soldiers” below the junta’s proposal, the supply stated on situation of anonymity.

The supply delivered that the junta has agreed to “free president Keita”, who has been detained along with different political leaders since the coup on Tuesday, and he “will be in a position to return to his home” in Bamako.

“And if he desires to journey overseas for treatment, that is no longer a problem,” the ECOWAS source said.

Prime Minister Boubou Cisse, who has been detained with Keita at a navy base outdoor the capital the place the coup began, would be moved to a impervious house in the city, the supply said.

A junta professional proven to KnowAfrika the choices on the destiny of Keita and Cisse, as well as that “the three-year transition would have a military president and a government by and large composed of soldiers”.

The coup accompanied months of protests calling for Keita to resign as public discontent with the authorities grew over the country’s brutal Islamist insurgency and a collapsing economy.

While it was met via worldwide condemnation, hundreds of opposition supporters celebrated the president’s ouster in the streets of Bamako.

The junta has said it “completed the work” of the protesters and has vowed to stage elections “within a lifelike time”.

However Mali’s neighbours have known as for Keita to be reinstated, announcing the motive of the go to by using the delegation from the regional ECOWAS bloc was once to assist “ensure the instant return of constitutional order”.

(CGTN)