Military Coup Occurs in Mali, Africa... President Detained

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] A military coup has occurred in Mali, Africa, plunging the political situation into chaos with President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita reportedly detained. Regional African organizations and the international community, including France, the former colonial ruler of Mali, have unanimously condemned the coup and expressed support for the Malian government.

According to foreign media such as the Associated Press, a military coup took place on the 18th (local time) in Bamako, the capital of Mali. Malian soldiers staged a rebellion at the Kati military base, located 15 km outside Bamako, early that morning, arresting President Keita along with numerous senior civilian officials and military officers. The Kati military base is known as the site of a previous coup in 2012.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, and other regional officials reported that President Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Ciss? are being held by the rebels. Protesters who had been demanding Keita’s resignation supported the military rebellion and poured into the streets of Bamako. Mali’s state broadcaster ORTM reportedly went off air after the president’s arrest.

Regional African organizations and the international community, including France, have strongly condemned the military rebellion. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a coalition of 15 West African countries including Mali, urged the soldiers to immediately return to the Kati barracks. ECOWAS has been mediating the escalating political turmoil in Mali since June. The ?lys?e Palace announced that French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the situation and expressed support for ECOWAS’s mediation efforts. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the military rebellion "in the strongest terms" and called on the soldiers to return to their barracks.

The United States also expressed concern over the situation in Mali. Peter Pham, U.S. Special Envoy for the Sahel region at the State Department, tweeted, "The United States opposes any unconstitutional change of government, whether on the streets or by security forces."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.