Mali President, PM, Arrested in Apparent Coup

Political turmoil has become tense in Mali hours ago, as soldiers have detained the country's president, the prime minister and other top officials.

According to BBC, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, PM Boubou Cissé are being held at a military camp near the capital Bamako, following reports that the mutinying soldiers took control of the Kati camp.

DW reported that earlier on Tuesday, soldiers took up arms at the military base in Kati, a town 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the capital Bamako, and began arresting senior military officers and civil servants.

DW correspondent Mahamadou Kane, who was in Bamako ahead of the leaders' arrests, said: "More and more people are gathering at Independence Square in support of the M5-RFP movement that wants to see the resignation of the president and the prime minister Boubou Cisse. They seem to support the military but it remains unclear what the demands of the military are."

Rebel troops surrounded Keita's private residence that evening and fired shots into the air before taking the leader into custody.

Cisse, who had earlier urged the soldiers to lay down their arms after the uprising kicked off, was also seized. One of the prime minister's staff said the pair were being held at the army base in Kati.

Soldiers were then spotted moving freely through Bamako — a sign that they were making gains in the capital.

DW learned earlier on Tuesday that several high-ranking politicians and officials were arrested, including the Minister of Finance Abdoulaye Daffe and the chief of staff of the National Guard. State broadcaster ORTM was evacuated and later went offline, reported Reuters.

In recent weeks, there had been mounting discontent among troops about payment and over a continuing conflict with jihadists - as well as widespread discontent with President Keïta.

The latest development has prompted international condemnation. The chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, tweeted that he strongly condemned the arrest of Keita and Cisse and called for their release.

On his part, Vice President of the EU Commission also tweeted: "The European Union condemns the attempted coup d'etat underway in Mali and rejects all unconstitutional change."

He added: "This can in no way be a response to the deep socio-political crisis that has hit Mali for several months."

The French Foreign Ministry condemned the mutiny "in the strongest terms" and urged the Mali military to return to barracks. Over 5,000 French troops are stationed across the Sahel region that includes Mali to counter jihadi violence.

UN chief Antonio Guterres demanded "the immediate and unconditional release" of Mali's president and members of his government.

"The secretary-general strongly condemns these actions and calls for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and rule of law in Mali," a spokesman for Guterres said in a statement.