Mali: String Of Arrests In Bamako Of Politicians And Officers

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Top politicians and high ranking officers were arrested Sunday night in Bamako, reports the local media. Among the arrested are also former prime minister Modibo Sidibé, former Defence minister Sadio Gassama, former presidential adviser Bani Kanté, police chief Mahamadou Diagouraga and former army chief General Amadou Sissoko.

According to the Journal du Mali, the arrested were taken to Kati, headquarters of the military officers that carried out the coup that ousted president Amadou Toumani Touré last month. Other people are reportedly still wanted.

The motives of the arrests are unclear, as also the developments of the transition process mediated by the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) that led to the interim presidency of Dioncounda Traoré, parliament speaker.

Based on the accords reached between the officers and political part, also a new premier should take office in the next hours. Indiscretions indicate that Cheick Modibo Diarra may be appointed. Diarra, son-in-law of Mali’s former president Moussa Traoré (1968-1991), who is chairman of Microsoft Africa and ahead of the presidential vote previously set for April 29 formed a new party, the Union for the Development of Mali.

MISNA

MISNA, or the Missionary International Service News Agency, provides daily news ‘from, about and for’ the 'world’s Souths', not just in the geographical sense, since December 1997.

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