Mali’s president has resigned claiming he did so to avoid “bloodshed”. He made this known hours after he was arrested in the company of his Prime Minister and other top government functionaries by soldiers in a mutiny.
In a nationwide broadcast, Keita declared the dissolution of his government and the national assembly, he went further to say he had no choice but to resign with immediate effect.
In his statement he said “If it pleased certain elements of our military to decide this should end with their intervention, do I really have a choice?”
He continued by saying “I must submit to it, because I don’t want any bloodshed.”
There had been earlier reports of a mutiny led by Col Malick Diaw the deputy head of the Kati camp – and another commander, Gen Sadio Camara.
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita had been battling widespread criticism from Malian citizens. He was accused of massive corruption, the mismanagement of the economy and worsening security situation which culminated into jihadist and communal violence.
The International community has condemned the turn of events in the West African nation.
It was however unclear whether Keita was still in custody at the Kati base.
