Thousands marched on Wednesday in support of Mali’s coup leaders, who sought to quell fears they plan to cling to power by promising democracy and ruling out taking part in elections.
The international community has shunned the regime which took over after a mutiny a week ago turned into a full-blown putsch as soldiers seized government buildings and chased out President Amadou Toumani Toure.
The mutineers — who say they rebelled because they are angered by the government’s mishandling of a northern Tuareg rebellion — suspended elections planned for April 29 and have not named a new poll date. UN human rights chief Navi Pillay urged Mali to follow the lead of neighbouring Senegal, which just wrapped up a peaceful transfer of power, and to hold free, fair and transparent elections.
“Mali also had a good record of democratic elections over the past two decades, and I hope it gets back on that track as soon as possible,” said Pillay.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Tuesday suspended Mali “until its return to constitutional order”, following in the footsteps of the African Union which has also shut out the junta. Regional strongman Blaise Compaore, president of Burkina Faso, has been tasked by ECOWAS with leading a mediation team of six heads of state to Bamako which is expected to arrive Thursday.
As a former soldier who himself ousted a president, Compaore is likely to understand the frustration by the soldiers who revolted, tired of fighting a losing battle against the Tuareg desert nomads, analysts say.
West African leaders warned that the region’s troops were on standby if the junta failed to engage in dialogue.
Mali’s rebel soldiers — from an army poorly-equipped to battle an insurrection by heavily-armed, battle-hardened Tuareg recently returned from Libya — have called on the desert warriors to join peace talks.
However the Tuareg, waging their decades-old battle for independence, have remained mum and are pushing forward with their offensive. Fighting since mid-January has forced over 200,000 to flee their homes.
While Mali has been hailed as a successful democracy, simmering discontent over the government’s handling of the north — also torn by drug and arms trafficking and kidnappings of Westerners — has seen the junta win favour among some Malians.
Several thousand people marched in Bamako brandishing banners reading “Down with ATT (Toure)”, “Down with France”, and “Down with the international community”, while shouting “Sanogo solution” in support of coup leader Captain Amadou Sanogo.
