Mali Opposition Renews Call for President to Quit Over Militants
Mali Opposition Renews Call for President to Quit Over Militants
Opponents of Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita intensified pressure on him to step down as talks to solve a months-long political crisis stalled.
Keita has faced nationwide protests in recent weeks over his administration’s failure to deal with an Islamist insurgency, political tensions over a disputed parliamentary election in March, and the worsening coronavirus outbreak. Mali is a linchpin in a five-nation, European Union-backed effort to combat the militants, who are carrying out an increasing number of attacks in the region.
A coalition of opposition parties on Sunday urged Keita to either introduce a number of reforms, or quit. The group called for fresh demonstrations on July 10 to back their demands for the formation of a national unity government and the installation of a transitional legislative body.
During a brief meeting between the parties at the weekend, Keita continued to “turn a deaf ear” to the opposition’s demands, while displaying “contempt for the Malian people,” the group said in a statement.
Thousands of protesters marched in the capital, Bamako, twice in June calling for Keita, who was re-elected in 2018, to quit and hand over executive power to a prime minister chosen by the opposition.
Keita said Sunday he has “taken note” of the group’s grievances and reiterated an offer he made last month for the opposition to join a planned national unity government.
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