Military officers in Mali arrested the president, prime minister and defense minister of the country’s interim government after a government reshuffle. Several diplomatic and government sources told the Reuters news agency.
President Bah Ndaw, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane and Defense Minister Souleymane Doucoure were all taken to a military base in Kati outside the capital Bamako, the sources said.
The arrests bring further uncertainty to the West African country after a military coup in August overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
Ndaw and Ouane had been tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition to civilian rule after the takeover, but many within the government and opposition were concerned about the military’s control over key positions. The arrests came after the announcement of a change of government in which two members of a military junta that took power in August were replaced.