Nigerian Govt condemns Mali coup, wants ECOWAS force in action

<!– The Coup plotters: L-R, Colonel Malick Diaw, Brig. Gen. Dembele, Colonel Sadio Camara –>

The Coup plotters: L-R, Colonel Malick Diaw, Brig. Gen. Dembele, Colonel Sadio Camara

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Nigerian Government on Wednesday condemned the coup d’etat in Mali, West Africa, Africa.

Mutinous soldiers had on Tuesday detained President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in a coup plot in the already troubled West African country.

Keïta was forced to resigned, as he announced this in a televised address on Tuesday, as the coup in Mali unravelled.

He also dissolved the parliament and the government headed by Prime Minister Boubou Cisse.

The turn of events followed a mutiny on Tuesday by soldiers, who later arrested him and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse, in what transformed into a coup d’etat.

“I want no blood to be spilled to keep me in power,” Keita said.

But the Nigerian Government, through the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, condemned the coup.

The government demanded the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order.

“The Nigerian Government unequivocally condemns the the coup d’état that took place in Mali yesterday and demands the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order.

“We welcome the urgent activation of the ECOWAS Standby force,” Onyeama said on his twitter handle.

The Nigerian Government unequivocally condemns the the coup d’état that took place in #Mali yesterday and demands the immediate and unconditional restoration of constitutional order. We welcome the urgent activation of the #ECOWAS Standby force. @NigeriaGov @ecowas_cedeao

— Geoffrey Onyeama (@GeoffreyOnyeama) August 19, 2020