Malian soldiers have picked up weapons and carried out an apparent myth at a key base in Kati, a city near the capital Bamako, aroused by fear of a coup.
The development situation on Tuesday comes amid a week-long political crisis that has seen opposition protesters taking to the streets to demand the departure of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, accusing him of allowing the economy of invading the country and abusing a deteriorating security situation.
There were reports of senior politicians and army officers being held, but it was not clear by whom.
Amid the confusion, opposition protesters gathered in a square in Bamako, while regional and international forces urged the soldiers to return to the barracks and foreign embassies advised their citizens to stay indoors.
Here are the latest updates:
17:30 GMT – AFP: President, Prime Minister arrested, says mythical leader
The AFP news agency, citing a source identified as a leader of the mutiny, said soldiers in Mali had detained President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse.
“We can tell you that the President and the Prime Minister are under our control,” the leader, who asked for anonymity, told AFP.
He added that the couple had been “arrested” at Keita’s residence in the capital Bamako.
The report could not be independently verified.
17:20 GMT – Reuters: Keita arrested by declining soldiers, security sources say
Reuters news agency reported, citing two security sources, that Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has been arrested by soldiers in the capital, Bamako.
The arrest came after soldiers were mutinated at the Kati army base outside Bamako and a number of senior and military officials marched, according to Reuters.
The report could not be immediately independently verified.
16:40 GMT – Protesters gather in Bamako
In Bamako, hundreds of people have been proclaiming the Square around the Independence Monument, the site of mass protests, since June, asking Keita to act on alleged corruption and strengthening security.
“Whether he is arrested or not, what is certain is that his end is near. God is losing our prayers. IBK is complete,” Haidara Assetou Cisse, a teacher, told Reuters news agency, referring to the president through his initials.
“We came out today to demand the total dismissal of Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Because we heard shots were fired by the army and we came out to help our soldiers get rid of IBK,” said opposition leader Aboubacar Ibrahim Maiga.
Protestants also attacked the justice offices’ personal offices, setting parts of them on fire, a Reuters witness said.
Opposition supporters in Independence Square in Bamako respond to the news about a possible wall of soldiers [Rey Byhre/Reuters]
16:07 GMT: Mali PM asks for dialogue
Malian Prime Minister Boubou Cisse called on the mutant soldiers to stand up and engage in dialogue to resolve the situation.
In a statement, he said the mutiny “reflects a certain frustration that could have legitimate causes. The government of Mali urges all perpetrators of these acts to stand up.”
16:04 GMT: France condemns Mali ‘mutiny’
France announced “in the strongest terms” what it described as a mutiny launched by soldiers in Mali.
“France has become aware of the mutiny that took place today in Kati, Mali. It strongly condemns this serious incident,” Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian said in a statement issued by the soldiers. to return to her barracks “without delay.”
A protest movement asking the president of Mali to resign has lasted two months [Rey Byhre/Reuters]
15:50 GMT: ECOWAS asks Mali soldiers to ‘return to barracks’
The West African bloc ECOWAS called on the soldiers “to return to their barracks without delay”.
“This mutiny comes at a time when ECOWAS has been taking initiatives for several months and conducting mediation efforts with all Malian parties,” the bloc said in a statement.
15:30 GMT: Warnings of possible difficulty
Gunfire was heard at an army base near Bamako, with the Norwegian embassy talking about a possible military effort. Soldiers fired their rifles into the air at the base in Kati, about 15 km from Bamako.
Witnesses said armored tanks and military vehicles could be seen on the streets of Kati, the Associated Press news agency reported.
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