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Malian soldiers check a vehicle in the garrison town of Kati, Mali, on Tuesday during an apparent mutiny. (Mohamed Salaha/AP
West African leaders lambasted a military mutiny in Mali on Tuesday, urging soldiers to return to their barracks or risk the region’s stability at a time of rising extremism.
The 15-nation bloc known as ECOWAS said it “vigorously condemns” the uprising, which started with gunshots at an army base and tactical vehicles rolling into the capital, stoking concerns of an attempted coup in the West African nation.
“ECOWAS therefore calls on the military to return to their positions without delay,” the regional bloc said in a statement.
The confusion in Bamako — including reports of blocked roads and officials under military arrest — comes as protesters seek to oust President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.
Tens of thousands Malians have flooded the capital in recent months, accusing Keïta of botching the response to a fast-spreading Islamist insurgency while allowing the nation’s economy to crumble.
The coronavirus pandemic further fanned frustrations after state lockdowns pushed many people out of school and work.
The Norwegian and French embassies both warned their citizens in Mali to stay home on Tuesday.
“The embassy has been notified of a mutiny in the Armed Forces and troops are on their way to Bamako,” the Norwegian Embassy wrote in an alert.
A French military official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter, described the scene as a “likely coup” attempt.
Soldiers detained the president of the National Assembly and the finance minister, according to local journalists. Troops also closed public squares and erected barricades on roads. Photos circulated on WhatsApp showing the justice minister’s house on fire.
“There is a mutiny, but we do not know what it means yet,” said Mohamed Salaha, a news editor in Bamako. “Everyone is being told to stay inside. Everything is closed.”
