The African Union Commission has reacted to the arrest and detention of Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse by mutinying soldiers.
The African Union Commission kicked against the arrests of Keita, Cisse and other officials which happened on Tuesday.
The mutinying soldiers had detained Keita and some members of his cabinet at his residence in Bamako, the country’s capital.
Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, condemned any attempt at “anti-constitutional” change while calling on the mutinying soldiers to respect the state’s institutions.
Faki wrote, “I strongly condemn the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the Prime Minister and other members of the Malian Government and call for their immediate release.
He also called on the United Nations and other international organisations to oppose the use of force to end Keita’s political reign in Mali.
“I strongly condemn any attempt at anti-constitutional change and call on the mutineers to cease all use of violence and respect for republican institutions.
“I call on the Economic Community of West African States, the United Nations, and the entire international community to effectively combine their efforts to oppose any use of force to end the political crisis.”
Earlier on Tuesday, while briefing Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Special Envoy to Mali, told his successor that Mali’s main opposition group, M5, is adamant on its call for the resignation of Keita.
Meanwhile, during the arrest, there were scenes of thousands of citizens cheering the ouster, with crowds jubilating at Independence Square in Bamako, Mali, and other places.
For more nearly three months, demonstrations demanding for Keita’s resignation were held, in which dozens lost their lives, a situation that worsened the crisis.
Keita’s removal comes amid the intervention by ECOWAS.
