European Union leaders, the African Union and the US have condemned the “kidnapping” of Mali’s civilian leadership and warned of potential sanctions against those responsible.
Military officers detained the west African country’s president and prime minister on Monday, following a cabinet reshuffle in which two cabinet ministers appointed from the military were removed.
“What happened was grave and serious and we are ready to consider necessary measures,” the European Council’s president, Charles Michel, told reporters after a summit of the 27 EU leaders on Monday night. The bloc was “ready to consider targeted measures against political and military leaders who obstruct the Malian transition”, a statement added.
A joint statement signed by the US, EU, and AU said the international community rejected “any act imposed by coercion, including forced resignations”.
President Bah Ndaw, the prime minister, Moctar Ouane, and the defence minister, Souleymane Doucoure,…