Rebelling soldiers rounded up a number of senior civilians and military officials from Mali’s capital on Tuesday and drove them back to their base, a Malian security source and an official in the prime minister’s office has reported.
Unconfirmed rumours that the mutineers have also arrested President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita spread through Bamako, prompting hundreds of anti-government protesters to pour into a central square to celebrate saying it was time for him to resign. The president’s office could not however be reached for comment.
“Yes, mutiny. The military has taken up arms,” the security source said earlier after residents reported hearing gunshots. It is not immediately clear how many soldiers were involved.
A Malian military spokesman confirmed that gunshots were fired at the military base in Kati, about fifteen kilometres from the capital, but said he did not have any further information.
A mutiny in 2012 at the Kati base led to a coup that toppled then-President Amadou Toumani Toure and contributed to the fall of northern Mali to jihadist militants, who continue to operate across the north and centre of the country.
In Bamako, hundreds of people poured into the square around the Independence Monument, the site of mass protests since June, calling for President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to quit over alleged corruption and worsening security.
“Whether he’s been arrested or not, what is certain is that his end is near. God is granting our prayers. IBK is finished,” said Haidara Assetou Cisse, a teacher, referring to the president by his initials.
Opposition supporter Aboubacar Ibrahim Maiga added, “We have come out today to call for the total resignation of Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Because we heard there were shots fired by the military and we have come out to help our soldiers get rid of IBK.”
An eyewitness reported that protesters attacked the justice minister’s personal offices, setting parts of them on fire. Elsewhere in the capital, government ministry buildings were evacuated, an official said, and gunfire was heard near the prime minister’s office, according to a security source.
The offices of state television, ORTM, were also evacuated, said Kalifa Naman, a senior ORTM official. There have been no reports of any attack on state TV, which was still broadcasting pre-recorded programming.
The United States Special Envoy for the Sahel Region of Africa expressed disdain about the situation.
“The U.S. is opposed to all extra-constitutional changes of government, whether it is by those in the street or defence and security forces,” Special Envoy J. Peter Pham said on Twitter.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc said it “calls on the soldiers to return to their barracks, while asking all concerned Malian parties to favour dialogue to resolve the crisis”.
The French and Norwegian embassies in Bamako urged their citizens on Tuesday to stay home. A French military source said discussions were taking place between Mali’s army command and the mutineers.
The ongoing protests against Keita represent Mali’s worst political crisis since the 2012 coup. At least 14 people have been reportedly killed in the demonstrations.
