Egypt closely follows up Mali’s political crisis, condemns all forms of violence

CAIRO 20 August 2020: With deep concern, Egypt is closely following up on the rapid political developments in Mali, where the military forced the president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta to resign on Wednesday, according to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

Egypt affirms its condemnation of all forms of violence in the current crisis, and calls on all Malian parties to exercise restraint and adhere to peaceful methods and dialogue to settle the crisis and to restore the country’s constitution order, the statement said.

Egypt also affirms its support for political efforts aimed at resolving this crisis, particularly the efforts that are being exerted by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union over the past period to reach a peaceful political settlement of the crisis, the statement added.

Cairo offered its deep condolences to the Malian people for the victims of the recent violence, the statement continued.

On Wednesday, the African Union (AU) has suspended Mali’s membership in response to the ouster by soldiers of its president and government in a coup, the AU Peace and Security Department.

“The African Union Peace and Security Council suspends Mali from the African Union until the restoration of constitutional order and demands the release of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the prime minister and other government officials forcibly detained by the army,” the department tweeted.

On Wednesday morning, the military leaders behind the coup, a group calling themselves the National Committee for the Salvation of People (CNSP), addressed the nation promising a political transition, elections within a "reasonable time," and a national curfew, CNN reported.

MENA contributed to this story