Coup underway in Mali as president, PM and defense minister arrested

Mali military arrested the president, prime minister and defense minister of the African country's interim government on Monday after a cabinet reshuffle, multiple diplomatic and government sources told Reuters, indicating a coup is underway.

President Bah Ndaw, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane and defense minister Souleymane Doucoure were all taken to a military base in Kati outside the capital Bamako, the sources said.

The arrests bring further uncertainty to the West African country after a military coup in August overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Ndaw and Ouane had been tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition back to civilian rule after the takeover, but many inside government and the opposition worried about the military's hold over key positions.

The arrests occurred after the announcement of a change in government in which two members of a military junta that seized power in August were replaced.

(c) Daily Sabah

News.Az

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