Protesters call for government resignations after shootings

Protesters in Mali’s northern city of Gao on Wednesday called for the resignation of the region’s governor and the national security minister a day after three people were killed when security forces opened fire on a demonstration there.

The government has promised to open an inquiry into the incident, which saw at least 31 others injured and exposed the fragility of efforts to implement a year-old peace deal and stabilize the West African nation’s troubled north.

The protesters, some of whom burned tyres and threw stones at police, were angered by the introduction of a new interim authorities who are due to take charge of the region on Friday in line with the terms of the peace agreement.

After initially attempting to disperse the crowd with teargas, security forces shot at the protesters, witnesses said.

“We’re calling for the immediate departure of the governor (of Gao), the security minister and the heads of the police, the gendarmes and the army in Gao,” said Amadou Sarr, a leader of a local vigilante group who helped organize the demonstration.