Mali military junta alleviates curfew, re-opens air, land borders
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The national committee for the people’s salvation (CNSP) decided Friday to ease the curfew imposed on the entire Mali territory and re-open all air and land borders, closed after Tuesday’s coup, from midnight, Friday, 21 August, official sources told PANA here.
In a statement, the CNSP announced that the curfew, initially set from 21 hours to 5 hours in the morning, will now be from 00h to 5 hours in the morning. The new curfew “comes into force from Friday 21 August, 2020, until further notice”.
The decision to re-open the borders follows a meeting held on Wednesday between the Committee and international partners operating in Mali.
The curfew was established Wednesday following the coup against the regime of President Ibrahim Boubacar Kéita.
The latter and the prime minister of his regime remain in detention at the Kati garisson.
The military junta has promised a civilian transition that will prepare for free and fair elections.
Reliable sources said that the junta on Friday released the ex-minister of Economy and Finances, Abdoulaye Daffé, and a chargé d’affaires at the Malian presidency.
In addition to President Keita, forced to resign on Tuesday by soldiers, and his prime minister, about 15 other civilian and military personalities are still in the hands of CNSP, condemned by the international community, particularly ECOWAS, which has demanded a return to constitutional rule.
In another development, the junta is backed by the Malian opposition which Friday met at the Independence Square of Bamako to thank supporters for protesting since June to demand the resignation of President Keita and providing support for the Malian army.
-0- PANA GT/IS/MSA/RA 21Aug2020
