The arrest comes after weeks of protests in the country, in which protesters called for the resignation of President Kita • Protest organizers: "This is not a coup attempt but a popular uprising"

• Mali President Kita (right) and Mali Prime Minister Sisa

  Photo: 

  Archive - AFP

• A man holds the Mali flag in the city of Mako after the president's arrest, today

  Photo: 

  Photography - AP

• Mali Army soldiers enter the city of Mako, Mali, today

  Photo: 

  EPA

Mali's president and prime minister were arrested this evening (Tuesday) by rebel soldiers, a senior Mali government official said. "The two were transported by rebel soldiers armed to the city of Kati in armored vehicles," said President Ibrahim Bobachar Kita's communications director. In addition to them, other senior local government officials were arrested by the rebels.

The two's arrest comes after gunfire was heard at noon at a military base near the capital, Mako. The Associated Press reported that armed tanks and military vehicles were seen throughout Kati. Shortly afterwards, hundreds of people gathered in a spontaneous protest in Bamako and called for Kita's resignation.

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In recent weeks the country has been plagued by a deep political crisis, during which opposition protesters in the country have called for the resignation of President Kita, claiming that it has led to the collapse of the country’s economy and that it has worsened Mali’s security situation.

Protest organizers claimed the arrest of the two was not part of a coup attempt, but a popular uprising: "Kita did not want to listen to his people. We even offered him an alternative, but he responded with a killing," a spokesman for the protesters told Reuters.

Prior to Kita's arrest, he spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, who said he "condemned the coup attempt on the way" and called for the release of the two. Macron also discussed the situation with the leaders of Niger, Ivory Coast and Senegal bordering Mali. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the arrest, calling for the two to be released soon

The chairman of the African Commission, Musa Paki Mahamt, condemned the arrest of the two, who were arrested along with other senior government officials in Mali. "I call for their immediate release," he wrote on his Twitter account. Rebel soldiers respect the Mali constitution.

"We reject any attempt to make unconstitutional changes. This should not be a fitting response to the deep-seated socio-political crisis that has plagued Mali for several months," he said. In addition, according to a report in the AFP news agency, the UN Security Council will hold an emergency hearing tomorrow afternoon regarding the situation in Mali, at the request of France and Niger.

I strongly condemn the forced detention of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of #Mali, the Prime Minister and other members of the Malian govt, and call for their immediate release. My full statement: https: //t.co/zvJVuJJbjp

- Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) August 18, 2020