Colonel Assimi Goïta, who leads the military junta, said that the agreement with the French “brought neither peace, nor security, nor reconciliation” and that the population aspires “to stop the flow of Malian blood”

The coup leader, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, has claimed that he will put an end to the corruption and human rights abuses committed under the rule of ousted president Alpha Conde, whom he had served as a henchman. However, his close links to the US and France indicate other motives behind the coup

The coup leaders have also announced the dissolution of the country’s constitution, which was amended last year to allow president Alpha Conde to contest for the post of president for the third time

The Economic Community of the West African States took action against Mali following the coup last week when president Bah Ndaw and prime minister Moctar Ouane were arrested and forced to resign

The detention followed a minor reshuffle in the transitional government in which two military representatives were removed. The military had staged a coup in August 2020, forcing then president Boubacar Keita to resign

The coup was in response to the protests going on for the last few months in the country demanding the resignation of the president, widespread reforms and the expulsion of French troops from the country

Parliamentary elections were held in the West African nation of Guinea on March 22, Sunday. A referendum on certain crucial amendments to the constitution, including extending the president’s term, also took place simultaneously