The bloc’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell has condemned an ongoing coup in Mali, after the military seized the country’s President Ibrahim Boubakar Keita, according to local media reports.
In a tweet published on Tuesday, Borrell said that “the EU strongly condemns the coup attempt underway in Mali and rejects any anti-constitutional change.” He added that the coup “can in no way be a response to the deep socio-political crisis that has hit Mali for several months.”
L’UE condamne fermement la tentative de coup d’Etat en cours au Mali et rejette tout changement anti-constitutionnel. Ceci ne peut en aucun cas être une réponse à la profonde crise socio-politique qui frappe le Mali depuis plusieurs mois #AUEU https://t.co/L8airgRjy3
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 18, 2020
The country’s Prime Minister Boubou Cisse, along with several top officials was also seized by the Mali soldiers, forcing him to resign and to dissolve the parliament. The coup’s leaders on Wednesday pledged to form a civilian transitional government to pave the way for new elections.
The opposition has been protesting for weeks to demand the departure of Keita, accusing him for the collapse of the country’s economy and for mishandling a worsening security situation.
A statement issued by EU’s External Action service reads that “international law and human rights is the only way to avoid destabilization not only of Mali but of the entire region.”
In cooperation with the African Union, the United Nations and the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS), the EU has called for dialogue, adding that “contacts are underway” to decide on the international community’s next steps.
