The return of African military coups: Malian president has been deposed in a coup today – which country is next?
Posted by African Press International on March 22, 2012
by api.
The military in Mali has taken over the country. The airport closed and the curfew is in place.
Leaders from other African countries who were in Mali recently to attend African Union meeting on peace and security in the continent are holed up in their hotel in the capital city Bamako.
The military men who have taken over have not yet entered the hotel.
The military says they decided to take over the country because president President Amadou Toumani Toure had failed to unite the people. The northern part of the country has been taken over by rebels and the government soldiers were unhappy because the government took no interest to arm them with modern weapons so that they could fight the rebels.
They say the rebels in the north are better equipped and that is the reason the government had to go.
The constitution has been suspended. The military men calling themselves the National Committee for the Establishment of Democracy say they have taken control over the presidential palace. There are no confirmed reports as to the whereabouts of the president.
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