President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita on Tuesday evening declared his immediate resignation on state television, after he and the Prime Minister were detained by mutinous soldiers in a coup according to CNN.
Tuesday’s coup has ignited International disapproval and will likely lead to the further destabilization of the region which is already inundated by Islamist militants.
The President said on national broadcaster ORTM “For seven years I have with great joy and happiness tried to put this country back on its feet.
“If today some people from the armed forces have decided to end it by their intervention, do I have a choice? I should submit to it because I don’t want any blood to be shed.”
President Keita further mentioned that the country’s national assembly and government would now be dissolved.
The military leaders behind the coup known as the National Committee for the Salvation of People (CNSP) – addressed the nation on Wednesday morning promising a political transition, elections within a “reasonable time,” and a national curfew.
In addition, all air and land borders would be closed “until further notice” and a national curfew would be in place from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. local time.
The military leaders listed multiple accusations against Keita’s leadership, including claims of corruption and the inability of curtailing the long-running extremist insurgency.
Image source: Sky News
