In Mali, the president of the Transition, his prime minister and their new defense minister were arrested hours after the proclamation of a new government on Monday 24 May. A look back at the latest events, the identity of the putschists, the reasons for a new coup less than a year after that of August 2020, and the reactions of the political class and the international community.
In the aftermath of the arrest of President Bah N’Daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane by the military, Bamako woke up on Tuesday in uncertainty over the fate of the Transition. The night was nevertheless calm, without demonstrations, nor violence and scenes of looting. And so far, no resignations have been announced. Our sources also confirm that several other military and political officials have arrested. Personalities whose identities we do not yet know.
Nightly meetings
Late in the night from Monday to Tuesday, the former National Committee for the Salvation of the People (CNSP) began discussions with politicians, according to our sources. For this, we must mention the Movement of June 5 (M5-RFP), which, in turn, was received in Kati. As a reminder, this movement is the only associative organization that opposes the Transition. It is made up of several associations, political parties and political movements, and is currently headed by Dr Choguel Kokala Maiga, president of the strategic committee. For the moment, nothing is filtering from their nightly meeting, and the personalities arrested are so far not free.
Who are the putschists?
This is Colonel Modibo Koné, former Minister of Security and Civil Protection and the second is none other than Colonel Sadio Camara, also former Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs. According to several security sources, the latter is one of the most honest men in the military garrison of Kati. “Sadio Camara is a man of integrity and popular. He is loved in the camps and this is due to his moral integrity and he is also effective, “confirms one of his close associates on condition of anonymity. As for Colonel Modibo Koné, he is known for his seriousness in the circles of the National Guard, according to military sources. He has the confidence of his military family (National Guard of Mali), and is of the same promotion as Colonel Sadio Camara, one of the pure products of Russia.
They accuse the president and his prime minister of having removed them from the government. For them, a first pre-established list was changed to the detriment of the junta. Something that is “unacceptable”, according to military sources. Also, the junta would accuse the prime minister of playing France’s game in the purchase of military armaments for Russia. A subject which occupies the debates everywhere in the felted lounges.
It should be remembered that a large rally is planned this evening at the Bamako labor exchange to “denounce the coup in Mali”. According to several observers, the coup d’etat should not be a “way to gain power”. For this, some believe that the way to gain power is none other than the organization of democratic elections in Mali.
Calls for calm
Several states and international organizations have condemned the arrest of the president, his prime minister and the new defense minister. These include the UN Mission in Mali (Minusma), the Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the European Union and the Organization of La Francophonie who call for calm and demand the unconditional release of detainees.
In a joint statement, the heads of state of ECOWAS and the AU strongly condemned “this act of extreme gravity which can in no way be tolerated under the relevant provisions” of their organizations. Asking the soldiers to return to barracks. Moreover, the former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, ECOWAS mediator in the Malian crisis, is expected this Tuesday in Bamako.
For his part, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for “calm” and “unconditional release” of civilian leaders arrested on May 24 by the military. “I am deeply concerned by reports of the arrest of civilian leaders responsible for the transition in Mali,” he wrote. And to affirm that its special representative is working with ECOWAS, the AU and international actors supporting the political transition underway for an honorable exit from the said crisis.
In turn, the head of Minusma, El Ghassim Wane, who has just joined the UN organization, rushed back to Bamako on Monday evening, while he was on a visit to central Mali.
“This act is reprehensible”
Internally, the reactions abound. Coqueyni Amion Guindo, president of the Convergence pour Développement du Mali (CODEM) is the first Malian politician to condemn this 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 former Prime Minister Moussa Mara, who said he was “very sad to learn of the arrests of the transitional president, the prime minister and some of their collaborators. Unequivocal condemnation of any seizure of power by arms, whether in a Transition or during a constitutional regime ”. The former Prime Minister also demands and calls for their unconditional release, and the normal continuation of the Transition. For him, “only dialogue can allow us to overcome misunderstandings and move forward together towards the return to a normal constitutional order”.
In turn, the local Transition Monitoring Committee, made up of all representatives of the international community in Mali, also did not fail to express its concern. Also demanding “the immediate and unconditional release” of the arrested personalities. Moreover, the committee said in its press release, those responsible for the arrest of the prime minister and the transitional president “will be held personally responsible for their security.”
“This act is reprehensible. It discredits the whole process, and weakens the ongoing processes. It weakens the authority of the state; so let us be outraged, ”insists Yeah Samaké, former Ambassador of Mali to India and leader of the Party for Civic and Patriotic Action (PACP).
