Soldiers seize Mali President Ibrahim Boubakar Keïta

 Rebel forces have arrested Mali's president, Ibrahim Baubakar Keta, a government spokesman (BBC) confirmed.

          

Mali President Ibrahim Boubakar Keïta

Arested by Soilders

Pic credit- Yahoo News

MALI -  Earlier, Prime Minister Babu Sisi was also arrested for his "fraternal" behavior.

      

#frondeur #Mali avec ses images de l'armée malienne fêtant avec la population à la place de l'indépendance la prise du pouvoir. pic.twitter.com/pceBMUJfrU

— Le Méhari du Désert (@AmakanessAg) August 18, 2020

  Attempts at an apparent coup in the West African country began on Tuesday morning with gun battles near the capital, Bamako.

 The revolt that has been going on for some time, takes on a huge size

  In the city, youths set fire to a government-owned building.

  Disgruntled junior officers captured the commanders and took control of the camp, about 15 kilometers from Bamko.  A few hours later

 

#Mali- Le président de la république arrêté et se trouve aux mains de l’armée. (mutins) pic.twitter.com/mrno9HHTgK

— Buubu Ardo Galo Macina (@Ardo_Galo) August 18, 2020

 The regional powers of the rebellion have been strongly condemned by the Equas, the African Union and the former colonial power France.

  They demanded the resignation of the president as unrest called for more protests.

   Mr Keita won a second term in the 2018 election, but anger over corruption, mismanagement of the economy and growing jihadist and sectarian violence have complicated the situation.

 It was not immediately clear how many troops took part in the uprising.  According to some reports, there was a salary dispute over them.

  The chairman of the African Union Commission, Mosa Faki Mahamat, said in a tweet that he "strongly condemned" the arrest of President Keta and his prime minister.

  The Economic Community of West African States (EQOS) has called for the rebels to return to their barracks.

Révolution au #Mali : j’ai pu filmer les militaires fraternisant avec la foule des manifestants sur la célèbre place de l’indépendance. Cette fois, la messe est dite pour l’autocrate Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta. @LeMediaTV pic.twitter.com/k1bHhfhacN

— THOMAS DIETRICH (@thomasdietrich0) August 18, 2020

  The statement said, "The revolt comes at a time when Iquassa Malian has been trying and mediating with all parties for several months."

 French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also condemned the incident "in his own words" and called for the troops to return to the barracks.

  Earlier, the French embassy in Bamako sent a loud tweet advising people to stay home.

  French troops are stationed in the West African state to fight militant Islamists.

  Footage from the AFP news agency showed a building owned by the Ministry of Justice burning in Bamako.

  In recent months, large crowds of Imam Mahmoud Deco have been demanding the resignation of President Kita.

  It is learned that many people gathered in the capital on Tuesday in support of the troops.