The planners of the coup de’tat which overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali have been backed by the deposed government’s opposition.
The country’s opposition on Thursday said it would work with the military junta that ousted President Keita to restore stability into the country.
The development is seen as a setback for regional bodies, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), who are against a coup-driven change of government.
ECOWAS, which is convening over the crisis, suspended Mali, shut borders and halted financial flows in response to Tuesday’s overthrow of President Keita.
According to Reuters, the M5-RFP coalition of anti-Keita opposition groups said it was working alongside the mutineers, and labelled the ECOWAS sanctions an over-reaction stemming from some regional leaders’ fears that the coup could set off political unrest in their countries.
“(The leaders) are on an all-out drive to set ECOWAS against Mali,” said M5-RFP spokesman Nouhoum Togo.
“…M5-RFP and CNSP are currently working. At 10 am they should present the conclusions, which will be brought to the attention of the press this afternoon.”
Heads of state from all 15 members of ECOWAS are due to discuss the fallout from the coup in a virtual session on Thursday.
In July, a delegation from the bloc failed to broker an agreement between Keita and the opposition, who had led large-scale protests against the government in recent months.
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