Mali’s Vice-President Colonel Assimi Goita has said that he removed the president and prime minister because they violated the terms of the transition by not consulting him on cabinet changes.
Last year, Assimi Goita led the coup against President Ibrahim Boubaca Keïta. He took up the post of vice-president in the interim administration that is supposed to pave the way to a return to civilian rule.
Goita has said that elections will take place next year.
Meanwhile, the United Nations in Mali has demanded the immediate release of President Bah Ndaw and the prime minister after they were detained by soldiers and taken to a military camp.
In a tweet, United Nation Secretary General António Guterres called for calm.
The African Union, European Union and United States have also condemned the arrests.
