Mali soldiers who led to the ousting of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and government in a coup earlier this week promised to hold fresh elections in the country within a “reasonable” time, reported Reuters.
Rebelling soldiers detained the now-former President Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse on Tuesday, throwing the fragile nation already fighting against jihadism in the Sahel into further crisis.
President Keita resigned just hours after he was arrested following months of political turmoil in the West African nation. He appeared on state television to announce he was stepping down to avoid any bloodshed.
The mutinuous soldiers call themselves as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People. During an address on national television on Wednesday, the group said they went ahead with the coup to avoid further anarchy and insecurity.
“We are not keen on power, but we are keen on the stability of the country, which will allow us to organise general elections …within the reasonable time limit,” Colonel Ismael Wague, a spokesman for the coup-makers, said early on Wednesday on state television.
He said that all international agreements including the UN mission in Mali and G5 Sahel will be respected and continue to remain in place.
Wague added that the coup leaders also remain committed to the Algiers process, a 2015 peace agreement between the Malian government and armed groups in the north of the country.
Army officer Colonel Assimi Goita announced himself as the leader of the military coup after meeting top civil servants.
“Let me introduce myself, I am Colonel Assimi Goita, chairman of the National Committee for the salvation of the People,” he said.
Much of the international community immediately condemned the military coup.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairman of the African Union Commission, strongly condemned all attempts at anti-constitutional change.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also condemned the unconstitutional change of government.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced sanctions that included closing borders and the suspension of trade.
