From our permanent corespondent in Bamako.
In Mali, several states and international organizations have condemned the coup that took place in the afternoon of May 24, 2021. These include the UN mission in Mali (Minusma), the Community of Western States. -africans (ECOWAS), the African Union, France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and the European Union. In this article, Financial Afrik sheds light on the identity of the coup plotters and the motivations behind their coup.
In a joint statement, the Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) strongly condemned an “act of extreme gravity that does not can in no case be tolerated with regard to the relevant provisions of ECOWAS and the African Union ”. The two institutions ask the soldiers to return to the barracks.
For his part, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has, in a tweet, called for “calm” and “unconditional release” of civilian leaders arrested by the military.
“I am deeply concerned by reports of the arrest of civilian leaders responsible for the transition in Mali,” said the UN SG. In short, the international community reiterates its support for the Transition, which must maintain as a priority the organization of free elections within the allotted time.
In turn, the head of Minusma, the Mauritanian El Ghassim Wane, who has just taken service in the UN organization, returned urgently to Bamako on Monday evening, while he was on a visit to central Mali. Also, it should be remembered, the ECOWAS mediator in the Malian crisis and former Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, is expected in Bamako on Tuesday.
Reaction of the Malian political class
A time struck with amazement, the Malian political class quickly regained its voice. Thus, Housseyni Amion Guindo, president of CODEM (Convergence pour le Développement du Mali), is the first Malian politician to condemn the coup. “I strongly condemn the events taking place in our country. I demand the immediate and unconditional release of the President of the Transition, His Excellency Bah N’Daw, and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, ”he said. His message was followed by that of the former Prime Minister, Moussa Mara, “sad to learn of the arrests of the President of the transition, the Prime Minister and some of their collaborators” and unequivocally condemn any seizure of power by the weapons, whether in a transition or in a constitutional regime ”.
In turn, the local transition monitoring committee made up of all representatives of the international community in Mali demanded “the immediate and unconditional release” of the arrested transitional authorities.
“This act is reprehensible, it discredits the whole process, weakens the ongoing processes and weakens the authority of the State, so we are outraged”, Martèle Yeah Samaké, former Ambassador of Mali in India and head of the PACP (Parti Pour l ‘Civic and Patriotic Action).
Uncertainties and rumors
After the arrest of President Bah NDaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane on Monday evening by the military, Bamako woke up in uncertainty over the fate of the transition. At the end of a calm night, without demonstrations, without violence or scenes of looting, no resignations have yet been recorded. But before going to bed last night, Malians received confirmation that several military and political officials have been arrested.
Nightly meetings
Late in the night from Monday to Tuesday, we learned that the former National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP), began discussions with politicians. Thus, the M5-RFP, a motley movement close to Imam Mahmoud Dicko, was received at length in Kati. As a reminder, the June 5 Movement (M5-RFP) is the only associative organization that opposed the transition, considering itself cheated by the military who harvested the ripe fruit it had sown.
The Movement is made up of several associations, political parties and various groups. It is currently headed by Dr Choguel Kokala Maiga, Chairman of the Strategy Committee. So far, nothing has filtered out of this nocturnal encounter.
Who are the putschists?
The first is Colonel Modibo Koné, former Minister of Security and Civil Protection. The second is none other than Colonel Sadio Camara, former Minister of Defense and Veterans. According to several security sources, the latter is one of the strongmen of the military garrison of Kati.
As for Colonel Modibo Koné, he is from the same promotion as Colonel Sadio Camara, a pure product of Russia.
The two senior officials accuse the president and his prime minister of being dropped from the government’s list.
In the eyes of the authors of the coup, the first pre-established list was changed to the detriment of the junta. “Something which is inadmissible”, according to military sources close to the putschists. Also, the new junta would accuse the Prime Minister in particular of playing France’s game in the purchase of military armaments to the detriment of Russia. Information difficult to confirm in a context of ongoing boiling. Note that a large gathering is planned this evening at the Bamako labor exchange. According to the organizers, the goal is to denounce the coup, yet another of its kind, in Mali.
