Mali’s Ex-Interim President, PM Released From House Arrest

The authorities who deposed former Malian interim President Bah Ndaw and his prime minister, Moctar Ouane, have released them from house arrest, according to a committee monitoring the post-coup transition.

Their arrest by military officers in May signified Mali’s second coup since President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was deposed in August of the previous year.

Regional powers and allies, such as France, were frightened by the political instability, which believed it might postpone a planned restoration to civilian government via democratic elections in February 2022.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced Friday that it “welcomes” Mali’s decision to suspend “all restrictive measures” against the former leaders.

An official from the Malian government did not respond to a request for comment.

Following a military coup in August 2020, both men were selected as interim civilian leaders, tasked with guiding Mali back to civilian control.

Colonel Assimi Goita, Mali’s strongman, toppled Ndaw and Ouane in a second coup in May, following a sensitive government change. Later, Goita was named interim president.

According to Ndaw and Ouane’s aides, the two leaders were placed under house arrest after their removal.

ECOWAS said on Friday that the two should be allowed to use all of their powers as former president and prime minister.

Following an appeal by Ndaw and Ouane to the ECOWAS Court of Justice, which recently ordered that Mali justify their incarceration, the restrictions were lifted.

Since their dismissal in May, neither Ndaw nor Ouane have made any public statements.

For his part, Goita has pledged to restore civilian authority and hold elections in February of the following year.

However, there are concerns that the administration would be able to hold elections in such a short period of time in the face of widespread violence in Mali.

The government has been battling an armed revolt that began in the north of the country in 2012 and has now extended to the country’s center as well as neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.

To date, thousands of military and civilians have died in the battle.

According to SITE Intelligence, the al-Qaeda-affiliated Group to Support Islam and Muslims claimed responsibility for an August attack that killed 17 Malian soldiers on Friday.