Mali’s interim President, Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane have tendered their resignation following their arrest by the military.
Soldiers, led by interim Vice President Assimi Goita, arrested President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane and took them to a military base on Monday after a cabinet reshuffle saw two officers lost their posts.
“The president and his prime minister have resigned. Negotiations are ongoing for their liberation and the formation of a new government,” said Baba Cisse, an aide to Goita, on Wednesday in comments sent to the Reuters news agency by the military.
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Vice president Goïta is now expected to become transitional president after Bah N’Daw’s resignation.
The military’s actions have jeopardised Mali’s return to democracy following a coup last August and drawn condemnation from international powers.
Mali’s neighbours and international powers fear the political crisis could further destabilise a country that armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) have used as a launchpad for attacks across the region.