The African Union Commission has kicked against the arrest and detention of Malian President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and Prime Minister Boubou Cisse by mutinous soldiers.
The Union also frowned at the arrest of government officials which happened on Tuesday.
Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, also condemned any attempt at “anti-constitutional” change while calling on the rebellious soldiers to respect the country’s institution.
“I energetically condemn the arrest of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the Prime Minister and other members of the Malian government and call for their immediate liberation,” he wrote on Twitter.
During the arrest, however, there were scenes of hundreds of citizens cheering the ouster.
Crowds are jubilating at Independence Square in Bamako, Mali, and other places.
For more nearly three months, demonstrations demanding for Keita’s resignation were held.
Dozens lost their lives, a situation that worsened the crisis.
Keita’s removal comes amid the intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
“This mutiny comes at a time when, for several months now, ECOWAS has been taking initiatives and conducting mediation efforts with all the Malian parties,” an ECOWAS statement said.
Nigeria’s former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in July led a peace mission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to seek a solution to the crisis.
The committee eventually recommended a unity government for the troubled country.
Jonathan was back in the Presidential Villa Abuja on Tuesday to brief President Muhammadu Buhari of the development in that country, before the soldiers struck.