Thousands of Malians staged a protest in Bamako on Friday to demand the resignation of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita over what they described as his mishandling of many crises plaguing the country. Tribune Online reports that Keita, re-elected in 2018 for a second five-year term, is struggling with a years-long security crisis in northern Mali, an outbreak of the new coronavirus and political tensions arising from a disputed legislative election in March. Various political groups and human rights activists helped organise Friday’s demonstration, which had the backing of an influential Muslim cleric, Mahmoud Dicko. “The crisis in the north has worsened and spread to the centre of the country. “There is no security, no jobs,” said Ben Adama Diarra, 33, a spokesman for one of the rally organisers.

Source: Nigerian Tribune June 06, 2020 12:11 UTC