Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is facing mounting pressure to resign from his own citizens who staged a protest on Friday.
The protesters during a rally in the capital Bamako demanded the resignation of President Keita claiming that he has failed to tackle Mali’s major crises.
They held placards that read “IBK must go” and “No to bad governance”.
Mali has for years now struggled to overcome the activities of terrorists with the region remaining unstable since 2012 when jihadist fighters seized the desert north of the country.
Although french troops helped to recapture the north, violence still continues. Not even the presence of United Nations troops will help restore order.
Regardez le monde qu’il y a dans les rues de Bamako en ce moment pour réclamer la démission du Président.
???????????? pic.twitter.com/5y1t05Mizy
— Puff Mammy. (@PaolaAudrey) June 5, 2020
Crisis has worsened
Ben Adama Diarra, who speaks for the rally organisers told Reuters that “The crisis in the north has worsened and spread to the centre of the country. There is no security, no jobs.”
“Everyday we record deaths (from the violence and COVID-19). Mali is becoming a large cemetery,” he added.
#Mali #Bamako #5juin #Opposition
place de l’independance.
Une foule immense déjà sur place. pic.twitter.com/oLAHb0ZfPb— JournalduMali (@JourDuMali) June 5, 2020
A protester at the rally was also quoted as saying that “I’m here today to tell President IBK (the widely used initials of Keita’s names) that he is incompetent and that he cannot govern this country… He should resign.”
Friday’s protest also had the backing of various political groups and human rights activists and Muslim clerics like the influential and radical Imam, Mahmoud Dicko.
Bamako right now…. anti-gov’t protest pic.twitter.com/2fD8KDmENv
— Michel Mvondo (@_mmvondo) June 5, 2020
President Keita was re-elected in 2018 for a second five-year term but the large numbers that attended the protest rally could put pressure on him.
Source: Africafeeds.com
