Mali's soldier Vice-President says fired president, PM for 'failure to consult'

• Vice-President Assimi Goita, a colonel, confirms that he has sacked his boss and the Prime Minister for failing to consult him

• The two leaders were arrested on May 24 and spent the night at Kati military camp outside Bamako

• Their arrest is linked to formation of a new cabinet that replaced two military members of the transitional government



Mali's soldier Vice-President Colonel Assimi Goita has confirmed why President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane were removed from office on Monday, May 24.

Reuters news agency quotes him as saying he removed the president and PM because they violated the terms of the transition by not consulting him on cabinet changes.

Col Goita led the coup against President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta last year in the midst of widespreading protests across the sprawling West African nation.

Under pressure from allies and the international community, he took the post of vice-president in the transitional government that was expected to put the country on the track to civilian rule.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the African Union and regional bloc ECOWAS, along with other allies like the US and France have demanded the immediate release of President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, who were last said to have been detained in the Kati military camp.

Col Goita has said that elections will take place next year.