Coup leaders in Mali this morning released former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita from military custody after holding him since his capture on August 18 after successfully overthrowing his government.
Keita was released at 3am Thursday August 27 and brought to his residence at Sebenikro where soldiers are still guarding him. ECOWAS negotiators have insisted on Keita’s release from the onset but the coup leaders appeared to condition his release on an agreement for the military to lead Mali for a three-year transition period.
The former president’s release, which experts are calling a partial release, may be a combination of the military showing signs of good faith and an apparent compromise to move the negotiations forward.
Meanwhile West African mediators told Mali’s coup leaders that the region would accept a transitional government led by a civilian or a retired army officer for a maximum of 12 months, according to a source from the Nigerian presidency.
Unless an agreement is reached, ECOWAS sanctions on Mali continues.
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