There has been political chaos in Mali as military junta detains the current head of state, acting President Bah Ndaw, and the Prime Minister, Moctar Ouane, on Monday.

The leaders were reportedly taken to the Kati millitary base, located near Mali’s capital, Bamako.

Ndaw and Ouane, were leading the 18 months transition government, that would culminate in an election, to enroll a new president for Mali.

This new development came hours after the government engaged in cabinet reshuffle, of two senior Army Officers, who took part in last year’s coup.

Those replacement were Ex-Defence Minister, Sadio Camara and ex-security Minister Colonel, Modibo Kone.

According to France 24, the reshuffle, also came at a time of growing political challenges in the country’s capital, Bamako, and pressure to stick to the deadline for promised reforms.

Nine months ago, (former) President Ibrahim Boubakar was toppled in a coup, but Ecowas and other world bodies intervened leading to a transitional government.

AFP, was able to reach Prime Minister Ouane, who briefly said soldiers “came to get him”.

Meanwhile, huge number of protesters gathered in Bamako’s Independence Square late Monday, amid heavy security presence.

A lawyer, and also one of the protesters, with the name, Mamidi Drane, lamented, said: “We are here to say no to the coup, that just took places, we are not here to support the President, we are not here to support the Prime Minister.

“We also never agreed with this transition, because we condemned the coup of (August 2020), but we think we had to give these officials chances to bring us to the end of this transition”.

A Joint statement signed by the UN, AU, ECOWAS, and the UK on Monday, condemned the arrests of the politicians, and called for their “immediate and unconditional liberty”.

Similarly, the UN mission in Mali, demanded an immediate release of President Bah Ndaw and the Prime Minister Ouane, from their detention.

Ijeoma Njoku reporting, Obinwannem News | May 25, 2021