JUST IN: Mali President, Prime Minister ‘Arrested & Detained’ By Soldiers (Details)

Mali President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse, have been arrested and detained by soldiers after weeks of unrest in the West African nation

“We can tell you that the president and the prime minister are under our control,” a military leader who requested anonymity, told AFP.

It was learnt that the action came amid a growing protest movement in the West African nation over charges that President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta stole a recent Parliamentary election.

It was also gathered that the President, prime minister, were arrested along with other government officials, according to Moussa Faki, chairman of the African Union Commission, who called for them to be freed immediately.

The turmoil came amid a growing protest movement driven by charges that the government of President Keïta had stolen a Parliamentary election in March and installed his own candidates.

Demonstrators have also been angered by the government’s failure to address corruption and the bloodshed that has plagued the country for eight years.