Rebels in Mali Announce Forming Transitional Civilian Government

Leaders of the rebels who staged a military coup in Mali, in west Africa, that led to the resignation of President Ibrahim Abu Bakr Keita and his government, on Wednesday, announced their intention to form a transitional civilian government that would organize new elections.

Keita resigned late on Tuesday and parliament was dissolved hours after rebel soldiers held him at gunpoint, exacerbating the crisis in a country already facing militant insurgency and protests.

In a statement broadcast on state television today, a spokesman for the rebels, who called themselves the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, said they had decided to act to prevent the chaos from getting worse in the country.

Colonel Ismail Wague, a spokesman for the committee, who stood surrounded by soldiers, called on civil society and political movements in Mali to join them and formulate conditions for a political transition that would lead to elections.

Wague said that the country is sliding into a state of chaos, and insecurity, mainly because of the mistakes of those who control their fate.

Mali's regional and international partners have condemned the military coup, as they fear the fall of Keita will exacerbate insecurity in the country and destabilize the entire Sahel region in West Africa.

The Economic Community of West African States "ECOWAS" announced earlier on Wednesday night, punitive measures against Mali, due to the military control of the government, and these measures included freezing Mali's membership in the group's bodies, and suspending commercial, economic and financial exchanges between Mali and western countries Africa.

The rebels called for a political transformation that would lead to elections, and affirmed their commitment to all international agreements. They decided to close all borders in Mali until further notice.

The insurgency in Mali began yesterday at a military base near the capital, Bamako. Then the rebels announced the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Bobo Cisse. Later, the president announced his resignation, as well as the dissolution of Parliament and the government.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the rebellion in Mali and called for the immediate restoration of constitutional order and the rule of law, as well as the release of the country's leaders.

The resigned president said in a brief speech broadcast by state television: "I do not want blood to be spilled by remaining in power.

In the capital, Bamako, rebel soldiers arrested Keita, the prime minister and the president's son.

The arrest came after a mutiny at the Kati military base outside Bamako and the arrest of a number of high-ranking civilian and military officials.

A spokesman for the protest movement in Mali confirmed that the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is not a military coup, but a popular uprising.

"The president did not want to hear from his people, and we had suggested an alternative, but he responded by killing," said Nohom Togo, a spokesman for the "M5 coalition."

Mali has recently witnessed a severe political crisis, and the opposition is demanding the resignation of the country's president, rejecting settlement options.

The African Union (AU) announced this evening, Wednesday, the suspension of Mali's membership after a military coup against power and the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.

The AU added that the suspension would continue until constitutional order was restored, and demanded the release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and other senior officials.

The rebels called for a political shift that would lead to elections, and confirmed their commitment to all international agreements, and decided to close all borders in Mali until further notice.

The rebellion began in Mali on Tuesday, August 18th at a military base near the capital, Bamako, then the rebels announced the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Bobo Cisse.