LEAD: Mali coup leaders close borders, impose curfew

19 Août 2020

Bamako, Mali, August 19 (Infosplusgabon) - The Mali military who ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita on Tuesday have announced the establishment of the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) that will rule the country.

The junta's spokesman, Colonel Major Ismail Wagué, said in an address on television that the country's borders would be closed with immediate effect and a night time curfew has been imposed from 21:00 - 0500 GMT.

He called on regional and subregional organizations to assist Mali and reassured its partners, including UNAMID, the French force Barkane, the G5-Sahel and others, on the continuation of their cooperation with Mali.

The junta appealed to the Coordination of the Movements of Azawad (CMA), one of the main signatories of the Algiers Agreement aimed at achieving a final peace in Mali, for the efficient implementation of the said Agreement.

The military have been cheered on by citizens who have been key in the series of huge demonstrations calling for President Kéita and his government to resign.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has, on its part, also closed all land and air borders with Mali.

In a communiqué on the situation in Mali, it noted with great concern the seizure of power by the Malian military.

ECOWAS said it will stop all economic, commercial and financial flows and transactions between the member countries and Mali and urged all its partners to do the same.

On Tuesday night President Kéita announce his resignation following the mutiny of soldiers who arrested him and several members of his government.

Speaking on Mali public television he also announced the resignation of his government and dissolution of Parliament. He said he did not want blood to be spilled because of him.

"I have decided to resign. I declare the dissolution of the National Assembly and the government," President Keïta said in a statement on the national public TV station ORTM. "I would not want blood to be shed to keep me in business," he added.

President Kéita was first elected in 2013 and won his second term in 2018

He was also Prime Minister from 1994 to 2000 and President of the National Assembly from 2002 to 2007.

Tuesday started with gunshots being heard at the Kati military camp, Mali's largest.

Reports said some angry soldiers ransacked the arms depots to show their displeasure with the military hierarchy as shooting continued.

The Prime Minister Boubou Cissé, many ministers, including the recently-appointed Minister of Economy and Finance, Abdoulaye Daffé, were arrested along with several Generals of the Malian army by the anti-terrorist forces.

This development comes at a time when the 5 June Movement - Rally of Patriotic Forces (MP5-RFP) had decided to undertake, from Tuesday awareness marches for young people in the capital, Bamako, sit-ins and other activities, to press their demand the resignation of President Kéita and his government for "bad governance" and "mismanagement" of the security and economic crises that Mali has been experiencing for years.

The mutiny has been condemned by many organisations and countries including the UN, AU, ECOWAS and France which have asked the soldiers to return to barracks and prioritise dialogue.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and the rule of law.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/OMM/GABON2020

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