Military officers seized Mali after President Ibrahim Boubacar arrested Keita at gunpoint and forced him to resign, in a coup that drew immediate international condemnation.
The 75-year-old Keita had been the target of weeks of mass protests demanding his resignation over what opponents said was his failure to restore security, tackle corruption and raise living standards.
The organizers of the coup have promised to restore stability and control over a transition to elections within a “reasonable” period.
Below is a summary of regional and global response to the events in Mali:
African Union suspension
Cyril Ramaphosa, de President of the African Union (AU) and President of South Africa, condemned the “unconstitutional change of government” in Mali and demanded the release of Keita and other top government officials.
The AU also said on Wednesday that Mali’s membership would be suspended until constitutional order is restored.
His presidency @CyrilRamaphosa condemns the unconstitutional change of government in Mali. President Ramaphosa demands that the Malian military release the president, the prime minister, the ministers and other executive governments from detention.
– AUChair2020 (@ AUChair2020) August 19, 2020
ECOWAS blockade
In a statement, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stated “major concerns “about the” seizure of power by Malian military putschists “.
The 15-nation bloc, which sought to mediate in the political crisis between Keita and the opposition, said its members would close land and air borders to Mali and demand sanctions against “all putschists and their partners and collaborators”.
The 15-nation bloc also said it would suspend the country from its internal decision-making bodies.
– ECOWAS-CEDEAO (@ecowas_cedeao) August 19, 2020
UN Security Council asks mutiners to return to barracks
The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday called on Mali to release abusive officials, including the country’s president, immediately and “return to their barracks without delay.”
The 15 members “also underline the urgent need to restore and move the rule of law in the direction of the return to constitutional order,” according to a statement from the Council.
UN chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday demanded “the immediate and unintentional release” of President Mali and members of his government.
“The Secretary-General strongly condemns these actions and calls for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and regulation in Mali,” a Guterres spokesman said in a statement.
“To that end, he demands the immediate and unintentional release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and members of his cabinet,” added spokeswoman Stephane Dujarric.
European Union: ‘Back to the state of the law’
Leaders of the European Union also called for the “immediate liberation” of detained politicians and “for a return to the rule of law”.
“We believe that the stability of the region and of Mali, and the fight against terrorism should be an absolute priority,” he said. EU Council President Charles Michel said after a video conference of the bloc’s 27 leaders on Wednesday.
South Africa: ‘Direct return to civil rule’
The South African government called for an “immediate return to civilian rule”.
In a statement on Wednesday, Ramaphosa also urged the people of Mali to “observe the rule of law and engage in a peaceful dialogue to resolve their differences”.
President Ramaphosa calls for immediate return to civilian rule & for the army to return to its barracks.
The President urged the people of Mali, political parties and civil society, to observe the rule of law and engage in peaceful dialogue to resolve their challenges.
– DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) August 19, 2020
Nigeria: ‘Restoration of constitutional order’
The Foreign Minister of Nigeria, Geoffrey Onyeama, condemned the military coup and called for the “immediate and unintentional restoration of constitutional order”.
In a statement on Wednesday, he also expected the activation of the ECOWAS standby force.
The Nigerian government condemns the coup in which it took place in vain #Mali yesterday and demands the immediate and unintentional restoration of constitutional order. We welcome the urgent activation of the #ECOWAS Standby power. @NigeriaGov @ecowas_cedeao
– Geoffrey Onyeama (@GeoffreyOnyeama) August 19, 2020
Angola: ‘We refuse this way to force the exchange of power’
Angolan President Joao Lourenco also explained the events in Bamako.
In a post on Twitter on Wednesday, he said his government had carefully monitored the latest incident, and despite the reasons “why the president was fired”, his government reputed[d] and discourage[d]”this way of forcing a change in power.
We support with attention the ultimate advancements in Mali.
Independently of the ratios at the base of the quays the President elites for deposition, repudiamos and desencorajamos is this form of force in alternative to power.– João Lourenço (@jlprdeangola) August 19, 2020
Translation: “We have carefully monitored the recent events in Mali. Despite the reasons why the president-elect was fired, we repudiate and discourage this way of forcing the change of power.”
Algeria: ‘Rissue of any anti-constitutional amendment ‘
Algeria also rejected the coup in its neighboring country and called for elections in accordance with its constitution.
“Algeria reiterates its firm rejection of any anti-constitutional change of government,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
It said Algeria was following up with “worrying” developments in Mali, with which it shares a nearly 1,400 km long (870 miles) border.
Algiers called on “all parties to respect constitutional order and return to reason for a speedy end to the crisis,” the ministry said. “Only polls form the path to power and legitimacy,” he added.
FS condemns ‘mutiny’
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of the United States condemned the ‘mutiny’ and called on all political and military actors to work towards the restoration of a constitutional government.
“We encourage all stakeholders to get involved Mali to engage in peaceful dialogue, to respect Maliour ‘rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and to reject violence,’ Pompeo said in a statement.
The US strongly condemns the August 18 mutiny in Mali. We participate in our international partners, including the Economic Community of West African States and the @_AfricanUnion in the sense of these actions.
– Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) August 19, 2020
China opposes change by force
The Chinese government has called for a peaceful solution to the crisis in Mali.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian spoke at a regular press release, saying that Beijing had paid close attention to the situation and opposed the change of power through means such as the use of force.
He added that China supports the efforts of relevant regional and international organizations, in particular the AU and ECOWAS, in finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in Mali.
Turkey ‘deep concern’
In Turkey, the ruling Vice President of the AK Party for Foreign Affairs called for the “immediate release” of Keita and other senior officials.
Cevdet Yilmaz on Wednesday expressed Ankara’s deep concern and said it hoped for “unity, stability and a speedy return to a normal democratic political order of the people”.
Turkey calls for immediate release of detained Mali president and former officials. We are deeply concerned about the military coup. We hope that Brother Mali people return to normal democratic political order, unity, stability and prompt return.
– Cevdet Yılmaz (@_cevdetyilmaz) August 19, 2020
Germany: ‘Close monitoring of the situation’
German Chancellor Angela Merkelcondemned the military coup “and said they” want to promote stability Mali and peaceful relations “.
She also spoke German soldiers stationed in Mali were not in danger, while the foreign bureau added that “it was closely following the situation and had closed the embassy as a precaution”.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the Mali coup has so far not affected the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the West African country [AFP]
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