Mali’s ex-President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita dies at 76
BAMAKO, MALI » Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the former president of Mali who took office in a landmark election held after a destabilizing coup only to be ousted in another military takeover nearly seven years later, has died. He was 76.
Keita, known to Malians by his initials IBK, had been in declining health since his forced resignation in August 2020, and had sought medical treatment in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, shortly after his release from junta custody.
The transitional government, which is still led by the man who ousted Keita from power 18 months ago, issued a statement saying that his death Sunday in Bamako followed “a long illness.”
“The government of the Republic of Mali and the Malian people salute the memory of the late great,” the statement said, adding that funeral details would come later.
The news comes as the turbulent West African nation faces a deepening political crisis, with coup leader Col. Assimi Goita having no immediate plans for a return to democracy as initially promised.
Keita won Mali’s historic 2013 presidential election held after an earlier coup in 2012 and a subsequent French-led military intervention the following year to oust Islamic extremists from power in the country’s north. But only seven years later, Keita himself was ousted by another military takeover following months of public demonstrations against his presidency.
Keita had three years left in his final term when mutinous soldiers detained him at his residence in August 2020 after firing shots outside the house.
Hours later, he appeared in a midnight broadcast on state television, telling Malians he would resign immediately.
“I wish no blood to be shed to keep me in power,” Keita said at the time. “I have decided to step down from office.”
The country has descended into further chaos since his departure. Goita last year launched a second coup, throwing out the civilian transitional leaders and making himself president.
West African regional leaders imposed tough economic sanctions earlier this month after Goita indicated that Mali’s next presidential election won’t be held until 2026, after initially agreeing to an election by the end of next month.
The measures halted commercial flights from most other countries in the regional bloc known as ECOWAS and froze the Malian government’s assets in commercial banks.
A protest movement against Keita’s presidency in 2020 saw tens of thousands demonstrate in the streets in the months leading up to his overthrow.