Bamako, Aug 19, 2020 – Mali awoke on Wednesday to a new chapter in its troubled history after rebel military leaders forced President Boubacar Keita from office, prompting its West African neighbours to threaten border closures and sanctions against the coup leaders. The coup leaders appeared on television overnight to pledge a political transition and new elections within a “reasonable time”. There were no reports of casualties during the military takeover but the coup leaders announced a curfew and border closures, in effect sealing off the country. Jihadist insurgencyFrench President Emmanuel Macron was among the first to condemn the mutiny, his office saying that he still supported mediation efforts by other West African states. “MINUSMA (the UN force in Mali), (France’s) Barkhane force, the G5 Sahel, Takuba (a European special-forces initiative) remain our partners,” he said.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 19, 2020 13:30 UTC