Mali’s president and prime minister were arrested by soldiers late on Monday in what international powers called an “attempted coup” in the west African country at the heart of the fight against jihadism in the Sahel.
The arrests came after a cabinet reshuffle that left out key members of the military junta that took over In a coup last August.
The United Nations, African Union, France and the US called for the immediate release of transitional President Bah N’Daw and prime minister Moctar Ouane in a joint statement that called the arrests an “attempted coup”.
“The reckless action carried out today carries with it the risk of weakening the mobilisation of the international community in favour of Mali,” the group said.
The move by members of the junta, which had technically been “dissolved” even though it remained the most powerful faction in the transitional government, threatens elections promised for February.
The Economic Community of West…
