Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced his resignation and the dissolution of Parliament. This happened a few hours after he was detained by the rebels.
The revolt in Mali began yesterday at a military base near the capital Bamako. The rebels announced the arrest of the President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and the Prime Minister Boubou Cisse.
"I have decided to leave my powers, starting from this moment... I don't want blood to be spilled in order to preserve my power," the President said. His speech was broadcasted on state television.
In addition, he announced the dissolution of the Parliament and the government.
The mutinous military announced the creation of a national committee to save the people, and called for a political transformation leading to elections. They also assured that they would comply with all international agreements.
Earlier, local media reported that the rebellion in Mali were headed by the colonels Daou and Camara, as well as the General Cheick Fanta Mady Dembélé.
The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern about the situation. The Foreign Ministry noted that it was not yet clear how events would develop in Mali.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the revolt in Mali and called for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and the rule of law, as well as the release of the country's leaders.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which includes 15 countries, has decided to close all borders and stop economic deals with Mali.
The current political crisis has been amplified many times by the anti-government opposition that has become more active in the country in recent months. A well-known religious figure who studied in Saudi Arabia, Imam Mahmoud Dicko, has moved to the political forefront. He created the opposition June 5 Movement - Rally of Patriotic Forces. Its participants demanded the immediate resignation of the President and regime change. The largest anti-government demonstrations took place in the capital on June 5, June 19 and July 10.
Terrorist Islamist groups have become more active in Mali in recent years. The largest among them are the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP) and the Islamic state in the Greater Sahara (ISGS). Both are structures of the Islamic State (ISIS, banned in the Russian Federation). In the border areas with Burkina Faso, there are also groups associated with al-Qaeda (banned in the Russian Federation). From Mali, terrorists attack areas of Burkina Faso, Niger, Côte d'Ivoire and are threatening to reach the shores of the Gulf of Guinea. Their plans are to create an African Caliphate in the West of the continent.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from RIA Novosti, TASS