Credit: By Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times/ United Nations Secretary-General António  Guterres

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC TIMES

UNITED NATIONS  –  NEW YORK – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and the rule of law in Mali, after mutinying troops arrested the country’s leader and other senior officials on Tuesday.  President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta resigned following his arrest, plunging the west Africa nation into political chaos. Soldiers had initially staged a mutiny at a base near the capital, Bamako, before subsequently detaining President Keïta and other members of his government. 

“The Secretary-General strongly condemns these actions and calls for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and rule of law in Mali. To this end, he demands the immediate and unconditional release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and members of his cabinet.”

-Secretary-General spokesperson

The Secretary-General also expressed his full support to the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) who are working to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Mali, including through thhe offices of his Special Representative, Mohammed Ibn Chambas.

-UN SECURITY COUNCIL TO MEET WEDNESDAY TO DISCUSS MALI SITUATION 

African Union Condemns Mali Military Mutiny

Credit: African Union / Chairman of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat

“I strongly condemn the forced detention of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali, the Prime Minister [Boubou Cisse] and other members of the Malian government, and call for their immediate release,”

the chairman of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said in a statement.

European Union Rejects Coup in Mali 

The European Union condemned an apparent coup in Mali on Tuesday, saying it would reject all unconstitutional change in the country.  EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement the  ongoing social and political crisis in the country cannot be responded to by such initiatives.