The President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has resigned following mutiny by soldiers in the capital, Bamako.
President Keita made the announcement of his resignation on state television on Tuesday night stating that he does not wish to shed blood to be kept in power.
The military has since taken over the country and are expected to address the nation.
President Keita’s resignation comes hours after soldiers arrested and detained him as well as the Prime Minister and other top government officials in a military coupe. President Keita and PM Boubou Cissé were held at a military camp near the capital Bamako.
The arrest of Keita and other government officials by mutinous soldiers has received wide International condemnation.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has been mediating talks between the president and opposition groups, condemned the detention and demanded for Keita’s release as well as the other government officials.
ECOWAS has since initiated moves to impose sanctions on the country following the incident. The Regional Bloc also ordered the closure of neighboring borders with Mali while moving to suspend the country from its decision-making body, Aljazeera reports.
The arrest was also condemned by the UN Secretary Antonio Guterres who called for the immediate release of the president and members of the government. The European Union also condemned the arrest.
The West African country has been in a long-standing political crisis with opposition protesters taking to streets to demand the resignation of Mr. Keita. The protesters accused the president of mismanaging the economy and worsening the security situation in the country.
