Mali’s interim President and Prime Minister have resigned as part of mediation efforts after being arrested in an apparent second military coup in nine months, a top junta aide said.
President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, tasked with steering the return to civilian rule after a coup last August, resigned “before the mediator.” Baba Cisse, Special advisor to junta boss Assimi Goita said that negotiations were under way for their release and the formation of a new government in the poor Sahel country.
A member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) mediation mission confirmed the president’s resignation to AFP, requesting anonymity.
The team travelled early today, May 26 to the Kati military camp around 15 kilometres (nine miles) from the capital Bamako to visit the two detainees.
Ndaw and Ouane had been heading the interim government with the declared aim of restoring full civilian rule within 18 months.
