The Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) has reportedly suspended Mali from its membership to increase pressure on the military junta that has seized power in the country, reported CGTN Africa.
The announcement comes a week after the military force known as the National Committee for the Salvation of the People toppled former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita’s government. Keita stepped down after he and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse were taken to a military camp last week.
The international body of French-speaking countries said it was committed to “maintaining the cooperation of actions directly benefiting the civilian populations, as well as those contributing to the restoration of democracy” and “the establishment of a transitional government led by a civil authority.”
The OIF said it will send a delegation to the capitol Bamako in coming days to further assess the situation. The organization, based in Paris, contains 88 member countries, 15 of which are French-speaking West African nations.
Colonel Assimi Goita declared himself president of the Mali junta after the coup on Thursday. He met with top civil officials in Bamako as he announced himself as head of the National Committee.
The Mali coup has been condemned by France and the international community including the UN Security Council, EU, African Union, and the US demanding Keita’s release.
The European Union has also suspended its training missions in Mali after the military coup, EU officials said on Wednesday.
An EU official said the two missions training Mali’s army and police as part of international efforts to stabilize Mali and extend the state’s authority are frozen because they were designed to support the legitimate national authorities.
Meanwhile, talks between Mali military coup leaders and West African mediators aimed at resolving the political situation in the country after last week’s coup ended without agreement on Monday after three days of discussions.
