The Mali military arrested the president, prime minister and defense minister of the interim government of the African country on Monday after a change of government, several diplomatic and government sources told Reuters, indicating a coup.
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, 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 in the government and opposition worried about the military’s grip on 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.
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