West African countries on Friday insisted on a return to civilian rule in Mali, where rebel troops ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on August 18 and held him for nine days. “If we consider that the question of (Keita’s) release is resolved, it is not the same concerning the return to constitutional order, which pre-supposes […]

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru – Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday participated in the second virtual extraordinary summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on the sociopolitical situation in Mali. All the presidents in the ECOWAS are present, alongside the ECOWAS President, Jean-Claude Kassi […]

Mali’s new military rulers said Thursday that former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was detained during the country’s coup on August 18, had been freed. The announcement came on the eve of a summit by Mali’s neighbours, who are to decide whether to ratchet up pressure on the fledgling junta. Keita’s ouster by rebel troops […]

Karim Keita, the son of deposed Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita who became a focus of public anger over his lifestyle, has fled to a “neighbouring country”, sources familiar with his whereabouts told AFP Thursday. “He left Mali two days ago by road,” said a Malian MP close to Karim, who had himself sat in […]

Mali’s new military rulers said Thursday that former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was detained during the country’s coup on August 18, had been freed. The junta, which calls itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), said on Facebook it was “informing public and international opinion that former President Ibrahim Boubacar […]

The international community increased pressure on the military junta that has seized power in Mali, as the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) suspended the nation from its membership Tuesday. Its leadership agreed the move at an extraordinary session held via videoconference, while adding that it would maintain any cooperation that would help the civilian […]

Talks between West African nations and Mali’s new junta ended on Monday without a deal on how the country should return to civilian rule following last week’s coup, the two sides said.

…Agree to release President The junta that seized power in Mali wants a military-led transitional body to rule for three years and has agreed to release the ousted President, a source in a visiting West African delegation and the rebel soldiers, has said. Last week’s coup, Mali’s second in eight years, followed months of protests […]

Talks between West African mediators and Mali’s military coup leaders ended on Monday after three days of discussions without any decision on the make-up of a transitional government, a junta spokesman said. West Africa’s regional bloc dispatched negotiators to Mali at the weekend in a bid to reverse President Ibrahim Keita’s removal from power last […]

The International Human Rights Commission has decried the recent military coup in Mali, describing it as “unacceptable in the 21st century”. Mr Rotimi Benjamin, the Coordinator of IHRC, Nigerian Committee, spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos. NAN reports that the rebel soldiers had on Aug. 18 […]

The United States on Friday suspended military aid to Mali after a group of rebel military officers seized power and placed the West African country’s president under arrest. There will be “no further training or support of the Mali armed forces — we have halted everything until we can clarify the situation,” the US special […]

Mediators from West Africa’s regional bloc are due in Mali on Saturday for talks aimed at reversing a coup that has been condemned abroad. But the coup was celebrated by many in a country battling an Islamist insurgency and simmering political unrest. Leaders from the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have taken […]

Thousands marched Friday in the streets of Mali’s capital to celebrate the overthrow of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, as the West African nation’s political opposition backed the military’s junta plan to eventually hand over power to a civilian transitional government. But as opponents of the former regime moved ahead with plans for the future, the […]

Malian opposition leader Soumaila Cisse, who was kidnapped in March in a jihadist-ridden area ahead of key elections, has sent letters to his family, in their first contact since the abduction, the Red Cross said on Friday. “The ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) has handed letters from Mr Soumaila Cisse to a member […]

The African Union (AU) on Wednesday suspended Mali a day after its leaders were detained by mutineering soldiers and the president forced out. The AU’s 15-member security council “suspends Mali from the African Union until restoration of constitutional order and demands release of President Boubacar Keita, the Prime Minister and other government officials forcibly detained by […]