Thousands join Mali rally to celebrate Keita’s ouster

Thousands gathered in the capital’s Independence Square, the birthplace of a months-long protest movement, many of them draped in Mali’s national flag and blasting on vuvuzela horns.

They rallied three days after mutinying troops seized the country’s unpopular 75-year-old president, forced him to announce his resignation and unveiled a junta that would rule until a “transitional president” takes over.

In contrast to fierce condemnation abroad at the overthrow of an elected leader, many in the square were jubilant and shouted their approval when the junta came to pay tribute for the public’s part in the drama.

“We have come here to thank you, to thank the Malian public for its support,” the junta’s spokesman, Ismael Wague, told the crowd.

“We merely completed the work that you began and we recognise ourselves in your fight.”

Keita’s downfall came after months of protests, staged by a loose coalition called the June 5 Movement, that were fuelled by anger at failures to stem a bloody jihadist insurgency, revive the economy and tackle corruption.

“I am overjoyed! We won. We came here to thank all the people of Mali, because this is the victory of the people,” said opposition supporter Mariam Cisse, 38.

Ousmane Diallo, a retired soldier aged 62, said, “We are here to celebrate the victory of the people. Just the victory of the people.”

“IBK has failed,” he said, using a common reference to the ousted president by his initials. “The people are victorious.”

But, he cautioned, “the military should not be thinking now that they can stay in power.”

– Broad welcome –

Friday’s “victory rallies” had initially been scheduled as the latest round of protests to force out Keita by the June 5 Movement, also called the M5-RFP.

The movement — a loose alliance of parties, religious leaders and grassroots groups — has given a broad welcome to the president’s fall.

Keita, who was elected for a second five-year term in 2018, announced his resignation early Wednesday, saying he had been given no other choice and wanted to avoid bloodshed.

The June 5 Movement, in its first reaction, said it “took note of the (junta’s) commitment” for a civilian transition and promised to work with it on “developing a roadmap”.

Some of the placards brandished in the rally reflected resentment at perceived foreign interference in Mali’s affairs.

One read, “ECOWAS, a union of heads of state serving personal interests,” a reference to the 15-nation regional bloc that has led the condemnation of the coup and stands by Keita.

The bloc is to send envoys on Saturday, led by former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan.