SI condemns second coup in Mali in nine months

The Socialist International vigorously condemns the second military coup headed by Colonel Assimi Goita in Mali, this time removing and detaining President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, who were both appointed last September to lead the transitional government that followed the military ousting of the democratically elected President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

Nine months on from the previous coup, Mali once again finds itself suffering the consequences of a military takeover, destroying the hopes and wishes of the Malian people and blocking the return to democracy and the timetable agreed for democratic elections that Malians and the international community had accepted.

Following the rupture of democracy, despite the commitments previously agreed by the initiators of the transitional government, the people of Mali and their political leaders are still not allowed to become the real protagonists in defining the framework to guarantee full rights and freedoms for all Malians.

The Socialist International demands the immediate release of the detained President and Prime Minister, and calls for the swift resumption of the agreed framework and timetable for the restoration of democracy in Mali. Member parties of the Socialist International from throughout the continent have been, and are, in the forefront of the efforts to secure democratic governance in countries of the region and the SI stands firmly today with its two member parties in Mali, the RPM and ADEMA, and all democrats in that country.

We are encouraged by the response of the international community, including global and regional organisations such as the United Nations, the African Union, ECOWAS, MINUSMA, among others, and look forward to agreement on a common position by the UN Security Council.