Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has announced his resignation amid a military coup. He announced his resignation last night on state television hours after mutinous soldiers fired shots into the air outside his home before detaining him. The dramatic development comes after more than two months of regular demonstrations calling for him to step down three years before his final term was due to end.
Speaking on national broadcaster ORTM, a distressed Keita said his resignation is effective immediately. A banner across the bottom of the television screen referred to him as the outgoing president.
Keita, who was democratically elected and re-elected, was left with few choices after the mutinous soldiers seized weapons from the armory in the garrison town of Kati and then advanced on the capital of Bamako.
Soldiers detained Mali’s president and prime minister yesterday after surrounding a residence and firing into the air in an apparent coup.
