The European Union (EU) has on Tuesday condemned an “attempted coup” in Mali where Soldiers staged a mutiny, capturing the nation’s President, Prime Minister, Military Chiefs and political leaders.
A statement by the bloc’s diplomatic chief, Josep Borrell, read that: “The European Union condemns the attempted coup d’etat underway in Mali and rejects all unconstitutional change
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“This can in no way be a response to the profound socio-economic crisis which has been hitting Mali for some months.”
The EU, which has operated a mission training the armed forces in Mali since 2013, joined the UN and regional bloc ECOWAS in calling for dialogue.
“A consensual outcome respecting constitutional principles, international law and human rights is the only way to avoid destabilising not only Mali but the whole region,” Borrell said in his statement
One of the leaders of the mutineering soldiers told AFP that “the president and the prime minister are under our control” after being “arrested” at Keita’s residence in the capital Bamako.
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President Keita and Prime Minister Cisse are now being held in an army base in the town of Kati, an official at the prime minister’s office said.
The mutiny comes after months of protests calling for Keita’s resignation that have rocked the crisis-torn country.
