Written by Nayantara Singh, a grade 6 student.

The President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has announced his resignation and dissolved the Parliament today after he was taken from his home at gunpoint by soldiers who have been revolting against him. The Prime Minister, Boubou Cisse, was also arrested.

What happened

According to reports, four military officials planned the mutiny (rebellion)
and, with the help of many soldiers, took over what’s called the Kati military camp. After taking over the camp, which was a little outside the capital city of Bamako, the soldiers were said to have marched on the capital, where they were greeted by crowds who had gathered to as for the President’s resignation. There was gunfire as rebel soldiers fired shots towards the President’s house. A building was also set on fire.

Both the President and the Prime Minister have been taken to a military camp near the capital. Also, the President’s son, the foreign and finance ministers have also been arrested. Leaders from around the world have condemned this.

A brief background

There has been violence and instability in Mali since 2012, after when an Islamist rebellion had broken out. Then in 2013, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita got democratically elected. He was a leader who won with more than 77 percent of the vote. This was Mali’s first democratic post-coup election, and he was elected again in 2018.  

However, lately, President Keita was facing a lot of anger from the people the bad handling of the economy, corruption, and also a dispute over legislative elections. In the past few months, there had been many large protests over these issues.

In a televised address the President said that he did not want blood to be shed because of him and that he was dissolving the government.

Where’s Mali?

Mali, officially called the Republic of Mali, is a country in West Africa. Read this superb profile of the country.

Here’s a map to give you an idea where it is: