A Mutiny In Mali, President, Prime Minister Arrested, Forced To Resign

The President of Mali Ibrahim Boubacar Ali has resigned and dissolved both the parliament and the entire government, handing over power to the military.

There was a mutiny by the army on Tuesday. The army took over the control of the city, Bamako, arrested the President, the Prime Minister, and part of his top officials.

Malians have been protesting for months calling on their President to quit over massive corruption, insecurity, and increased poverty among the people.

Shortly after being arrested, Mr. Ali was forced to give an address through a state television that had been taken over by the military to announce his resignation.

“I want no blood to be spilled to keep me in power,” he said in a statement.

The coup and the mutiny have been blamed by governments around the world. France, which has a huge say in Mali affairs has also condemned the move calling on the military to hand back power.

France is a great financier of Mali and will play a key role in determining whether the military will remain in power or hand over to a civilian ruler.

“If today, certain elements of our armed forces want this to end through their intervention, do I really have a choice?” Asked the teary President.

Mr. Ali won the second term as President in 2018 but fell out with the people when he allowed massive corruption in his government. He is also accused of having let his families loot public funds at will.

Residents of Mali took to the streets to celebrate the decision by the soldiers saying salvation had, at last, come to them.

There are fears that there is a mutiny on the way in Ivory Coast after President Alassane Ouattara announced to run for the third term despite his term as stipulated in the constitution coming to an end.

READ: A Section Of Parents To Sue CS Magoha If He Won’t Open Schools