Mali: leader of 2020 coup takes power after president’s arrest

World leaders condemn grave and serious' kidnapping of Mali's leaders as Col Assimi Goiita seizes power

Mali's interim vice-president, Col Assimi Goita, who led a military coup last year, has declared he has seized power from the transitional president and prime minister, after they failed to consult him about the formation of a new government.

In a statement broadcast on state television, Goita said Mali's civilian president, Bah Ndaw, and prime minister, Moctar Ouane, had been placed outside of their prerogatives", and that he orchestrated their arrests and removal to the Kati military base, outside of the capital, Bamako.