Malian president and prime minister step down, army takes power again

Malian president and prime minister step down

Malian President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane are resigning, a spokesman for vice president and army chief Assimi Goïta announced on Wednesday. The pair were imprisoned by the army on a military base outside the capital Bamako on Tuesday.

Ndaw and Ouane took power last year as part of a transitional government. It was instituted after a military coup led by Goita. The vice president took power again after Ndaw and Ouane fired military-affiliated ministers.

“Negotiations for the release of the president and prime minister and the formation of a new government are in full swing,” said a Goita spokesman.

Local media report that the junta plans to close the borders and impose a curfew. Mali has long been troubled by jihadist gangs attacking villages, cities and army bases.

The UN Security Council will discuss the situation in the African country on Wednesday. Many international leaders have already called for the release of the president and prime minister.

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