AU, EU, UN, ECOWAS, others demand release of detained Malian president, PM

There is a multi-pronged demand that the Malian military immediately releases detained transitional leaders in the persons of President Bah Ndaw and his Prime Minister, Moctar Ouane.

The two officials were arrested by the military on May 24 and sent to the country's main military operations camp.

The arrest was connected with the formation of a new government following the resignation of the previous one amid growing protests after only a few months in office.

The two spent the night in Kati, an army camp situated a few kilometres from the capital Bamako in the custody of the military which appears to disapprove of the composition of the newly announced government.

The United Nations through Secretary General Antonio Guterres waded into the issue as has the European Council in a statement issued hours after the arrests were reported.

"I am deeply concerned by news of detention of civilian leaders of the Malian transition. I call for calm & their unconditional release. My Special Representative is working closely with ECOWAS, the AU & all other international actors supporting the ongoing political transition," UN chief said in a statement.

His AU counterpart, Moussa Faki Mahamat said the actions of the military stood condemned and were against the continental body and the regional ECOWAS political guidelines.

"The Presidents (of Africa) demand the immediate and unconditional release of the authorities kept in the barracks and invite the Malian parties to favor the spirit of dialogue," part of his statement read.

A May 24 meeting of the European Council also made the folowing pronouncement in the situation in the country.

"Leaders condemned the kidnapping of the President of the Transition of Mali and the Prime Minister and called for their immediate release. The EU is ready to consider sanctions against political and military leaders who obstruct the Malian transition."

The United States and former colonial power France have all issued statements calling for restoration of constitutional order in the country.

Meanwhile the spokesperson for the UN peacekeeping mission in the country, MINUSMA, has described the actions of the military as reckless and one that has far reaching consequences.

"This reckless action has serious consequences for Mali and the region as a whole. MINUSMA seeks to obtain as soon as possible access to all persons currently detained by the military in Kati.

"In order to ensure their conditions of detention and to obtain guarantees as to respect for their fundamental rights and related freedoms, as enshrined in international human rights law."

Concerning reports from Mali on the detention of the Transition President, Prime Minister, and others. We call for their immediate, unconditional release.

— Bureau of African Affairs (@AsstSecStateAF) May 24, 2021

A junta moving against a civilian transition

This same junta staged the coup d’état that saw to the ousting of the elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita nine months ago on August 18 2020 following a period of intense civil protests.

Mali plunged into a multi-faceted and intractable crisis for years, was heading for a day of uncertainty, rumors and diplomatic and political activity, with the expected arrival of West African states' mediator Goodluck Jonathan.

AU Head Tshisekedi "learned with dismay the arrest in Mali of the president of the transition, Bah Ndaw, and his Prime Minister, Moctar Ouane, by the military," said a press release from the Congolese presidency.

The Chairman has since strongly condemned "any action aimed at destabilizing Mali” as he also called on "all actors in the Malian political transition to show restraint and respect for the Constitution.”

The military has so far remained silent without making known its intentions despite speculation that the transitional leadership could be made to resign, as cases both in 2012 or 2020.

While hashtags against a new putsch in Mali flourished on social networks, the United Nations mission in the country (Minusma) denied tweets spoofing its visual charter to say a new prime minister had been appointed.

Communiqué des Présidents des Commissions de l’Union Africaine et de la CEDEAO sur la situation au Mali (24/05/2021) pic.twitter.com/c1zF3cB66d

— ECOWAS-CEDEAO (@ecowas_cedeao) May 24, 2021