MALI/IVORY COAST: Ordinary Malians don't know who's in charge of their country as a tug-of-war ensues in the coup-stricken country

Record ID: 182199

  • Title: MALI/IVORY COAST: Ordinary Malians don't know who's in charge of their country as a tug-of-war ensues in the coup-stricken country
  • Date: 24th May 2012
  • Summary: BAMAKO, MALI (MAY 23, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EMPTY STREETS
  • Embargoed: 8th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cote d'Ivoire, Mali
  • City:
  • Country: Mali Cote d'Ivoire
  • Topics: Conflict,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACCCQNJD68HLR576Y7A3BDXDS
  • Story Text: Confusion reigned over who was in charge of Mali on Wednesday (May 23) after a transition deal between ECOWAS and the military junta expired overnight.
    The leader of Mali's March 22 coup condemned the Monday's beating of the interim president by demonstrators and called for a peaceful transition of power in the West African country.
    Caretaker President Dioncounda Traore suffered minor head injuries when protesters stormed his palace, in the latest setback for efforts to stabilise Mali after the coup and deal with a subsequent revolt by northern separatists and Islamists.
    Traore was due to fly to France on Wednesday for medical checks after he was attacked by protesters earlier this week, two diplomatic sources and an official at Bamako airport said.
    Traore was injured in the face after hundreds of protesters broke into the presidential palace on Monday (May 21). The extent of his injuries was not clear but the diplomatic sources said he was due to have checks on his pacemaker.
    The coup and subsequent political uncertainty in Bamako have muddied international efforts to tackle the security void in the north, where groups linked to al Qaeda are now free to roam.
    Opinion on the street of the Malian capital, Bamako, is divided between who should be in charge of the troubled country.
    "With (original coup leader) Captain (Amadou) Sanogo (in charge) we would go forward, it's the only person who can run this country. As far as I'm concerned there isn't another option for running this country apart from him. And then the country will advance. Full stop," said Mamadou Doukoure, a street trader in the capital.
    "What I want is to let Dioncounda run the country for a year, if possible," said another street trader, who gave his name as Mady.
    Newspapers reflected the confused mood of the population, with headlines like "The ambiguous role of the Defence And Security Forces," and another showing Traore's picture with the caption: "A phantom at the presidency."
    "If we appoint someone to lead us, that needs to be someone who can put order in all this. It shouldn't be someone who operated all these years within the last regime. They weren't able to change anything, so we had to have this coup. Really, bravo to the soldiers for the military coup, we can't have other people impose the transition, beyond their capabilities," said Idrissa Maiga, a student from Bamako.
    On Monday, protesters occupied the presidential palace for several hours during a street demonstration called by local politicians who want the putschists to return to power and who accuse Traore of being a member of a self-serving political elite responsible for decades of misrule.
    But coup leader Sanogo, who at the weekend agreed with the ECOWAS West African regional bloc to allow Traore to preside over a one-year transition to full civilian rule, distanced himself and his CNRDRE grouping from the pro-coup movement.
    He released a statement saying "The CNRDRE firmly condemns these acts of violence ... The CNRDRE calls on the Malian people to contain themselves and respect all efforts taken towards an end of the crisis and a peaceful transition."
    As part of the accord extending Traore's mandate, Sanogo won status and privileges normally accorded former heads of state, including a pension for life and other perks.
    The fact that unarmed protesters, mostly dressed in jeans and t-shirts, were able to occupy the palace compound despite the presence of security forces raised questions over whether they had tacit support from sections of the military.
    Past ECOWAS statements have explicitly warned Sanogo and other coup leaders they would face foreign asset freezes and travel bans if they tried to block the transition process.
    Several United Nations Security Council representatives touring a refugee camp for Ivorians near Zwedru in Liberia - including permanent member France and non-permanent members Guatemala and Togo - told Reuters the attack on Traore appeared to have been triggered by the junta.
    "Everything is pointing in the direction of the junta," said France's U.N. Ambassador Gerard Araud. "I don't know if it's Sanogo or not, but obviously the military decided to wreck the agreement that had just been signed."
    Togo's representative to the U.N,. the only ECOWAS country represented in the Security Council, said: "Taking into account the latest developments in the country, notably the repeated reversals by the junta, I think today it is clear that ECOWAS must act."
    Amid the chaotic scenes in the capital, rebel officials said the MNLA, which wants to create an independent desert state, and Ansar Dine, which seeks to impose Islamic law across Mali, are nearing a deal over the future government of the north.
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