Deepali Kalia
Mali’s military Vice President Assimi Goita fired President Bah N’Daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane in a move which is being described as a country’s second coup in a year, for naming a new government without consulting him. He also blamed the transitional leaders for the strikes and protests around the country.
“In light of recent events, I feel obliged to relieve the president and prime minister of their functions to defend the republic,” stated Goita, who had led a military Junta in an Aug 18 Coup.
The country was still already shaken up by the coup which had overthrown President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and the now created leadership vacuum will only increase the uncertainty in the country.
The two transitional leaders were taken by force to the military headquarters in kati on May 24.
“If we don’t have clarity on the situation in the next few hours we’re ready to impose targeted sanctions against those responsible,” The French President Emmanuel Macron stated following the European Union Summit in Brussels on May 25 and described the actions as ‘a coup within a coup’. France continues to be deeply involved in Mali’s issues as its deployed troops to fight jihadists.
His government has also called for an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting on Mali.