Former Mali Prime Minister, Boubou Cisse, has been charged by the West African country’s office of the public prosecutor for allegedly attempting to organize a coup in August.
Charged alongside Cisse, whose whereabouts remain unknown, are a popular radio host, Mohamed Youssouf Bathily – known as “Ras Bath”; Vital Robert Diop, director-general of a betting group; two senior officials of the public treasury and the deputy director of a public finance agency.
The public prosecutor said that the six were under investigation for “plotting against the government, criminal association, insulting the head of state and complicity.”
The five accused had been detained since 21 December.
Cisse previously denied all accusations against him.
The secretary of the president’s office, Sekou Traore, who holds the ranks of a minister and magistrate, has also been detained as part of the investigation, but was later released. His case was referred to the Supreme Court.
Cisse was serving as prime minister at the time of the August 18 military coup, which led to the resignation of then President Ibrahim Boubacar and the dissolution of the parliament.
On September 12, the military rulers appointed former Defence Minister Ba N’Daou as the transition president and formed the interim government set to rule for 18 months until elections are held.
